ST. LOUIS - As quickly as he bounced back, Kurt Warner is wondering if he really did sustain a concussion Sunday.
"I took a shot one way or the other that caused some of the symptoms," he said Friday. "But I've had some doctors say that concussions are a relative term and others have said this may not even classify as a concussion."
Thursday, the Rams downgraded Warner's concussion from moderate to "very mild" because of his rapid recovery.
Warner has run the scout team all week and won't start Sunday against the 49ers. He wasn't officially cleared for backup duty behind Marc Bulger until Friday.
"This week, the only concern in my opinion is his health and his well-being," coach Mike Martz said. "I've been through this before too many times with quarterbacks. They're cleared. They all say they're ready, and within a series or two, something happens."
Then, Martz said, the team would be left with an unprepared backup.
Warner, who had concussions in 1995 in the Arena Football League and in 2000 with the Rams, said he has had no symptoms since shortly after being taken to a hospital Sunday. Nausea was gone by the time he got to the hospital, and a headache subsided soon after, he said.
Warner will be the second-stringer behind Bulger mostly because the other quarterback, Scott Covington, was signed this week.
"If we have to use him, we'll use him," Martz said. "But I'd just as soon not play him at all."
BRONCOS: Defensive tackle Daryl Gardener returned to practice eight weeks after tearing ligaments in his right wrist in an altercation outside a pancake house. He won't play Sunday but plans to return next week. Gardener said he probably won't have full use of the hand, at least at first, and admitted the injury involves "a six-month rehab." He wore a glove, a small cast and a bandage on his hand during practice.
49ERS: Starting left guard Eric Heitmann will not play against the Rams after spraining his ankle during practice. Dwayne Ledford will replace him. The 49ers expect linemen Scott Gragg and Derrick Deese to play. Gragg's injured ankle forced him to miss Sunday's game, and Deese sprained his ankle Sunday.
PANTHERS: Todd Sauerbrun became the highest-paid punter in league history Friday, agreeing to a four-year extension worth $1.5-million per season. The contract tops the Titans' Craig Hentrich's deal, which averages $1.4-million for four seasons. Sauerbrun, an All-Pro the past two seasons, had 45.5 yards per punt last season. His 31 punts inside the 20 tied for second in the league.
RAIDERS: Receiver Jerry Porter had hernia surgery and is expected to miss three games.
REDSKINS: Rookie tight end Kevin Ware was signed off the practice squad. He replaces Zeron Flemister, who strained an Achilles' tendon in the season opener. To make room, offensive lineman Wilbert Brown was released.
STEELERS: Running back Jerome Bettis practiced despite a groin injury that limited his playing time Sunday. He remains questionable against the Chiefs.
