NEW ORLEANS — Byron Leftwich, making his first start for the AtlantaFalcons since joining the club a month ago, went down with an injured rightankle on his first series of the third quarter Sunday against the New OrleansSaints on Sunday.

He gingerly walked off the field with help from trainers as Joey Harrington,who lost his starting job to Leftwich this past week, came into the game.

Leftwich was performing well before being taken down by Saints defensive endWill Smith as he released a long incompletion.

He completed 15 of 23 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. He also led apair of scoring drives that ended with Morten Andersen’s two field goals, givingthe Falcons a 13-7 halftime lead.

The Falcons said his return was questionable.

Shortly before Leftwich went down, Saints starting center Jeff Faine went tothe locker room to have his left shoulder examined. Saints officials said hisreturn was doubtful.

Faine, picked up in a draft-day trade with Cleveland in 2006, has been theSaints’ starter ever since.

Jonathan Goodwin replaced Faine midway through the Saints’ opening drive ofthe second half, which ended in rookie Pierre Thomas’ first touchdown rushing inthe NFL and gave the Saints a 14-13 lead.

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