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The 39-year-old Kitna, in his third season as Tony Romo’s backup, hasn’t been available to play since Nov. 13 because of a back injury.
“Any time you have one of these injuries, you have to figure out how long it’s going to take before he gets back and count the weeks left in the season,” coach Jason Garrett said. “We were going to give him every chance to come back from that back injury and we tried to do that. As it’s gone on, we’re running out of time, and it’s not getting much better.”
Kitna is in the final year of his contract with Dallas, and his back injury and age could make it difficult for him to convince any team to sign him next year if he wanted to keep playing.
He and his wife, Jennifer, recently built a home in the Lakewood area. He has said that after he retires from the NFL, he plans on teaching and coaching in South Sound, along with pursuing a faith-based ministry working with kids.
“My wife and I always felt like these years in the NFL have prepared us for what our real calling in life is going to be as teachers and running a high school football program,” Kitna said.
Kitna played in only three games this season, completing six of 10 passes for 87 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. All of his passes came in Week 2 against San Francisco, when Romo missed three possessions in the third quarter before returning from a broken rib that he suffered early in the game.
Kitna, who played at Central Washington University, has thrown for 29,745 yards with 169 TDs and 165 interceptions in 141 NFL games with Seattle, Cincinnati, Detroit and Dallas. He played for Seattle from 1997-2000.
EXTRA POINTS
Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck sat out practice because of a calf injury, but coach Mike Munchak said he is assuming that Hasselbeck will play Sunday at Indianapolis until he sees otherwise. Backup QB Jake Locker also was held out of practice. He has a chest injury. … Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb said he was able to practice “a little bit” after tests evaluating the concussion he sustained Sunday against the 49ers. … Browns president Mike Holmgren said quarterback Colt McCoy was not evaluated for a possible concussion during a Dec. 8 game because the team’s trainers did not see him get hit in the helmet by the Steelers’ James Harrison and he did not show any signs of a concussion. … Holmgren said Pat Shurmur will “absolutely” remain the Browns’ coach next season. … Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s sprained left ankle remained in a walking boot, and backups Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon are preparing as if they’ll play Monday night against the 49ers. Coach Mike Tomlin maintains Roethlisberger is “day to day” and will be evaluated throughout the week before a decision is made. … Chiefs interim coach Romeo Crennel said Kyle Orton will start at quarterback Sunday against the Packers. … Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, 64, will have surgery this week to resolve a kidney condition and will be away from the team for a week to 10 days.
TONIGHT’S GAME
Jacksonville at Atlanta, 5:20 p.m., NFL Network
LINE: Falcons by 101/2
SERIES RECORD: Jaguars lead, 3-1
LAST MEETING: Jaguars beat Falcons, 13-7, Sept. 16, 2007
LAST WEEK: Jaguars beat Buccaneers, 41-14; Falcons beat Panthers, 31-23
STATS AND STUFF: Falcons (8-5) are one victory away from their fourth straight winning season. Before 2008, Atlanta had never put together back-to-back winning records. … Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew leads NFL in rushing with 1,222 yards. … Falcons WR Roddy White is 35 yards shy of fifth straight season with 1,000 yards receiving. … Atlanta QB Matt Ryan has put up passer efficiency rating higher than 110 in three of past four games. … Jaguars rookie QB Blaine Gabbert is league’s lowest-rated passer (65.3), having completed barely half his throws, with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. … Jaguars (4-9) have placed 27 players on injured reserve, more than any other team.
The Associated Press
