<strong><span class="subhead">Huard avoids controversy</span></strong></p><p>If Damon Huard wants to sell himself as the Chiefs&#8217; long-term starting quarterback, his pitch needs some work.</p><p>Huard helped Kansas City snap its 12-game losing streak Sunday against Denver. But Huard stopped short Thursday of saying that win, or another one this week at Carolina, should make him the Chiefs&#8217; permanent starter.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a question that involves something in the future that I can&#8217;t really answer,&#8221; Huard said. &#8220;We just want to win a football game this weekend, and worrying about something else down the road really doesn&#8217;t do any good.&#8221;</p><p>Huard, a 12-year-pro, has become an expert this season at avoiding incendiary comments and sidestepping questions about the Chiefs&#8217; quarterback plans. The Chiefs have started three players at quarterback this season since Brodie Croyle suffered a separated shoulder in week one.</p><p>Coach Herm Edwards said Croyle should be ready for the Oct. 19 game against Tennessee, which comes after next week&#8217;s bye. Edwards wouldn&#8217;t commit this week to starting Croyle regardless of Huard&#8217;s and the Chiefs&#8217; performance against Carolina, but it&#8217;s widely expected that Croyle would start against the Titans.</p><p>Huard said he wouldn&#8217;t join in the discussion, saying he&#8217;d leave that topic for debate in the media.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;d love to create controversy and all that stuff,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I know that&#8217;s fun for you guys, but that&#8217;s really not what we&#8217;re all about here.&#8221;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Panthers stifle runners</span></strong></p><p>Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, who accumulated 319 yards rushing the last two weeks, will face a defense Sunday accustomed to facing &#8212; and slowing &#8212; elite rushers.</p><p>Carolina is 19th in rush defense, but it has not allowed a running back to gain 100 yards &#8212; regardless of star power. The Panthers held Atlanta&#8217;s Michael Turner, the NFL&#8217;s leading rusher, to 56 yards last week. They&#8217;ve also held San Diego&#8217;s LaDainian Tomlinson and Minnesota&#8217;s Adrian Peterson to double-digit yards.</p><p>Johnson enters this week ranked third among NFL running backs, with 415 yards.</p><p>&#8220;Something has got to give,&#8221; Edwards said, &#8220;and it&#8217;s going to be a good test for us.&#8221;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Injury report</span></strong></p><p>Linebacker Donnie Edwards (ankle) and left tackle Branden Albert (elbow) did not practice Thursday. Quarterback Croyle (shoulder), cornerback Patrick Surtain (shoulder), defensive end Tamba Hali (knee) and safety Dimitri Patterson (quad) were limited. Edwards, Albert and Croyle are out. Edwards said either Patterson or Surtain also will be listed today as out.