FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Head Coach Bobby Petrino said Monday that quarterback Joey Harrington would remain the team's starter heading into Week 12.
The coach made the comments at his regular Monday press conference after taking a long weekend to review tape of the team's Thanksgiving Night loss to Indianapolis.
Harrington replaced Byron Leftwich in a Week 10 loss to Tampa Bay. He started Thursday's game because of a tail bone injury to Leftwich. Harrington, who started the first six games of the season, completed 14 of 30 passes against the Colts for 155 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
"We're going to stay with Joey," Petrino said. "I think right now he understands everything we're working at. I just feel like we stay with him. Either Byron or Chris (Redman), who ever's ready, would be the backup."
INJURY UPDATE: Petrino said Leftwich did practice Monday, as did wide receiver Joe Horn. Horn missed the last three games with a hamstring injury and appears to be on track to make it back in the starting lineup.
Starting left tackle Todd Weiner did not practice Monday but, according to Petrino, did work through some drills over the weekend.
STEPPING UP: Starting right guard Kynan Forney missed Thursday's game with an illness, opening a door for second-year man D'Anthony Batiste. Petrino said Batiste "battled" through his first career start. He got some help from veteran center Todd McClure and right tackle Tyson Clabo who, according to the head coach, had one of his best games of 2007.
Injuries continue to pile up along the offensive line, however. Four different players have taken snaps at left tackle this season -- Wayne Gandy (injured reserve), Renardo Foster (injured reserve), Weiner and Quinn Ojinnaka.
McClure and rookie left guard Justin Blalock were the only starters Thursday who have played in every game since Week 1.
Petrino said putting together a healthy offensive line has been one of the team's biggest challenges this season.
"We haven't gelled completely," the coach said Monday. "I can tell you this, though, they are running the ball better. We're run blocking better. We just have to put it all together here in the last five weeks.
NEXT STEPS: The Rams (2-9) are coming off a heart-breaking division loss to Seattle. They're now the next opponent for the Falcons, who travel to St. Louis this weekend.
Petrino said the Falcons will continue working hard despite a 3-8 record.
"Right now what we're trying to do is focus on the game we're playing that week," he said. "Who's healthy is always one of the first questions I get in here. That always has a lot to do with that. Basically, when the season is over, we have to have a good plan and go forward..."
The coach used the Green Bay Packers, who are tied at the top of the NFC with a 10-1 record, as an example. Last season the Packers struggled to a 4-8 start, but won four-straight games to close out the season at .500.
"We have to take it one at a time," Petrino said, "but that's really what we'd like to do -- finish the season with momentum."
