Published: Tuesday, Dec. 01, 2009 / Updated: Tuesday, Dec. 01, 2009 08:20 AM

Moore ready to start for Panthers if his number's called

CHARLOTTE -- Panthers backup quarterback Matt Moore doesn't have much on-field experience, but he knew exactly what he was supposed to say Monday.

After coach John Fox announced that starter Jake Delhomme had broken a finger on his right hand during Sunday's loss at New York and that Moore would take the snaps in practice Wednesday, the third-year quarterback showed his ability to play prevent defense.

“What do you want me to say?” Moore cracked with reporters when asked who he expected to be Sunday's starter against Tampa Bay. “I don't know. I'm going to be real cliché and repetitive, and say I'm going to prepare and be ready to go if called upon.”

The easy-going, joking style is typical of the 25-year-old, who's known as much for his loose demeanor as anything. It served him well on the field in his 2007 on-the-fly audition, but he knows things are much different this time through. He met Monday's mayhem with a shrug, however.

“Yeah, I've been here before, obviously,” Moore said. “All I can do is prepare and get ready, and if it's the case that I've got to go, then I've got to go. The week will go by, the game will go by, we'll do everything the same and just get ready.”

In 2007, he was a wide-eyed rookie, thrown into the tail end of the 2007 season after Delhomme needed season-ending elbow surgery. Moore had some relief appearances (behind David Carr and Vinny Testaverde) early, then started the final three games, beating Seattle and Tampa Bay.

“I mean, a ton,” he said of the difference from his rookie year. “I was here four games before I got in here before, and I'm going on my third year now. I feel good, I feel ready. If it comes to that, we'll find out soon enough. But I feel good.”

Players have expressed confidence in Moore before, with fullback Brad Hoover summing it up best: “He's a good quarterback, he just needs the opportunity.”

After getting his feet wet as a rookie, he spent the 2008 season on injured reserve with a broken fibula sustained in the preseason finale. This year, he came in briefly in the opener against Philadelphia after Delhomme was pulled and backup Josh McCown was injured.

For his career, Moore's completed 69-of-123 passes for 793 yards, with three touchdowns and six interceptions for a passer rating of 63.5.

“We've started Matt Moore before. It's been (two) years,” Fox said. “He stepped in and did a pretty decent job. We've had more time with him now. We'll go from there.

“We haven't got a chance to see him in a whole lot of the live play lately. I think he's capable of making all of the throws. He's got the height, weight and arm strength you look for. The quarterback position is about decision making, and until you get in there in live situations, you really never know, and he hasn't had that opportunity a lot. I think he prepares hard and he'll definitely give his best effort.”

INJURY UPDATE — Hoover said he “tweaked” his sore right ankle in Sunday's loss to the Jets, but the damage didn't seem to be as bad Monday as he feared.

“I've been better, I've been worse,” Hoover said. “Today it wasn't as bad as I thought. It's sore, it's stiff, but I don't see it keeping me out.”

Hoover missed three games with the high ankle sprain, and said last week he figured the soreness would linger throughout the season.

Also Monday, Fox mentioned that running back DeAngelo Williams and wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett suffered ankle sprains in the Jets game, while defensive tackle Tank Tyler had a knee sprain.