Pats' Bledsoe To Miss One Week

Now that Drew Bledsoe's bad finger has resulted in a bad game, the New England Patriots have decided to rest their Pro Bowl quarterback -- with the playoffs still up for grabs.

Patriots coach Pete Carroll said Monday Bledsoe will not start Sunday's home game against the San Francisco 49ers to give his broken right index finger a chance to heal. Backup Scott Zolak and punter Tom Tupa, who serves as third-string quarterback, will share the snaps in practice this week.

"It was a combined decision using the information we had available," said Carroll, who conferred with team doctors. "We felt it was the right thing to do."

Late last month, Bledsoe underwent minor surgery during which a pin was inserted to resplint the finger. However, the pin came loose Sunday and Bledsoe clearly was not himself, completing just 11-of-35 passes for 176 yards in a 32-18 loss to the St. Louis Rams.

"The combined opinion is we just have to give him a break," said Carroll. "It's not staying the same. It's not adjusting well."

The loss ended a three-game winning streak and dropped the Pats to 8-6. They are tied for the final AFC wild card berth with the Tennessee Oilers and have won the last two AFC East Division crowns.

Despite the injury, Bledsoe guided New England to last-minute game-winning drives against the Miami Dolphins on November 23rd and the Buffalo Bills on November 29th. He underwent surgery between those games.

Drew Bledsoe won't start against the 49ers. (AP)

In a 23-9 victory at Pittsburgh on December 6h, Bledsoe wore a protective wrap on the finger that had to be adjusted during the game. In the second half, he admitted his throws began sailing on him as he had trouble controlling the ball.

On Sunday, things got worse. Bledsoe missed two series in the first quarter after the pin began pushing through the skin of his finger. Zolak came on and threw two incompletions.

Zolak is just 4-of-14 for 39 yards and an interception this year. Tupa, a 10-year veteran, has not played this season and has completed just one pass since 1992. Tupa has been New England's punter for the last three years.

"Zo has received more playing time this season but Tupa has played more in his career," Carroll said.

A former top overall pick, Bledsoe has completed 55 percent (263-of-481) of his passes for 3,633 yards, 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In six NFL seasons, he has thrown more TD passes than any other quarterback chosen with the top overall pick in the last 30 years.

In addition to using a reserve quarterback against the 49ers, the Patriots will be without wide receiver Terry Glenn, who fractured his right ankle against the Rams and is out for the season.

Carroll said Glenn will undergo surgery in the next couple of days. The third-year player, who missed four games earlier this season with hamstring woes, is the team's most dangerous wideout with 50 catches for 792 yards and three TDs.

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