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Update: Kurt Warner is expected to miss this Sunday’s game but return after that. 

Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner sent an email to friends and family Sunday night stating that he has torn ligaments in his left (non-throwing) elbow in hopes that the power of prayer can repair the damages before he goes in for an MRI today.

Divine intervention aside, Arizona fans can still rest easy. Reportedly, Ken Whisenhunt is optimistic concerning the injury, a good sign considering Warner is the team’s only real option at quarterback. Tim Rattay just isn’t a good enough filler — the Cardinals probably regret beginning the season with only two quarterbacks on roster (Matt Leinart — out for the season — being the other). They also were preparing to add Tim Hasselbeck to the roster later today to be the emergency quarterback.

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So, I hate to say this until more information is available and I didn’t actually see the incident, but has Vince Young been stricken with the Madden Curse? He left today’s game with a quadriceps injury and he didn’t return. How severe it is I don’t know yet, but his loss would mean the absence of the team’s most dangerous force on offense. Kerry Collins just doesn’t have the same play-making ability, though, without a doubt, he’s a better passer.

I’m a big fan of Matt Leinart, so it’s hard for me to say this. But here goes: the Cardinals are better off since his season-ending injury. It’s true. Arizona lucked out when Leinart broke his collarbone, leaving the offense in the hands of Kurt Warner; a very capable Kurt Warner, I might add.

Need some proof?

Kurt Warner is better than Matt Leinart. At the stage both these players are at, it’s not even a contest. Kurt Warner has more experience, something that Leinart can gain only through time playing in the NFL. The problem is, the Cardinals are a contender this season. They obviously don’t want to wait until Leinart matures in a couple seasons, evidenced by the dual-quarterback scheme. Ken Whisenhunt wants to win now, and Kurt Warner gives the Cardinals the best opportunity to do that.

Each week of the season a few fantasy owners are in need of spot starters. These are the guys who are poised for a big game based on their matchup, players who have potential and should start when you’ve lost someone to injury or your starter has a bye week. Or a few of these guys might be on your roster, but you’re not sure whether you should start them. Either way, your answer may lie below.

1. Brian Griese (QB - Chicago) — There aren’t many times this season when a Chicago quarterback faces a favorable matchup. This, however, is one of those times. At home against the Vikings, Griese has potential. The Vikings have allowed 266.8 passing yards per game this season, enough to rank them 8th in the NFL, and Griese didn’t look bad against the Packers last week.

Yesterday I presented you with a list of the top 10 pleasant surprises in the NFL this year. And while that’s all well and good, today I think we’ll focus on those teams and players who have disappointed us. We anointed them with praise and high expectations only to watch them stumble through the first quarter of the NFL season — with a bleak outlook ahead.

10. Larry Johnson — Big contract extension this offseason, small play since. Not to mention he ripped the Chiefs’ coaching staff (though it wasn’t totally unjustifiable). Sorry, LJ, but a 3.3 yard per carry average isn’t getting it done for fantasy owners, or the Chiefs for that matter.

We’re through the first quarter of the season now and each of the NFL’s 32 teams has played at least 4 games. A few, such as Dallas, after pulling out a seemingly impossible win over the Bills Sunday, sit at 5-0. They are the elites.

But other teams have taken us by surprise. Other players, too. It’s time to celebrate those players and teams that have gone above and beyond the expectations we set for them, celebrate their accomplishments, and look forward to what the rest of the season has in store.

You’re going to see greatness here; you’ll see the ones truly blowing our minds.

After some heartening news that Ward was practicing Friday, it’s a bit disappointing to hear that he won’t be playing Sunday. The idea behind sitting him, however, makes a lot of sense. It just wouldn’t be smart to play Ward this early after he’s missed two weeks of practice. His greatest strength is his fearless attitude of running across the middle of the field. If he’s still uncertain how his knee will hold up, he’ll hold back and he’ll be a more ineffective receiver. Not to mention he might get hurt.

While Jake Delhomme continues to recover, it appears he’ll miss a second consecutive start. While John Fox hasn’t officially stated Jake Delhomme will miss the game, it seems likely David Carr will make the start.

Last week against Tampa Bay, Carr completed less than 50% of his passes and threw an interception. And his 3.8 yard per attempt average was pathetic, and the Panthers slipped to a 2-2 record.

This Sunday they’ll take on the Saints in New Orleans. They’ve been among the league’s most disappointing teams this season and they’ll be desperate for a victory. If they slip to 0-4, they’ll have a tough climb to return to the postseason, especially with the Buccaneers playing at the level they are right now.

After missing nearly two full weeks of practice Hines Ward is returning, today, and if all goes well, he’ll see playing time on Sunday against the Seahawks. His knee reportedly is healing and it is surrounded by less fluid, little enough that he might be able to make hard enough cuts on the field to run crisp routes.

If the wide receiver isn’t okay to play Sunday, he’ll be replaced by Nate Washington (again). But apparently he’s in control.

“All the coaches say, ‘Hey, it’s up to you,’ ” Ward said.

The Washington Redskins will be a hurting unit on offense Sunday without the support of Clinton Portis’ running game and Santana Moss’s receiving ability. Fortunately, Clinton Portis has declared himself ready to play.

“If I’m out there on Wednesday and Thursday, they ain’t got no choice but to let me out there on Sunday,” said Portis, who missed practice Monday but said his bruised and sprained right knee felt fine after a full workload yesterday. “It was limited [Wednesday], but today I ran full speed on numerous plays — run plays and pass plays — and it felt good.”