Quincy Carter ended up replacing the quarterback who took his spot in Dallas.

In an odd switch, the quarterback cut by the Cowboys signed with the New York Jets on Tuesday and will back up Chad Pennington. Pennington’s backup last season was 40-year-old Vinny Testaverde, who was released by the Jets in June and became the Cowboys’ starter when Carter was let go.

Carter, who started every game for the Cowboys last season, was released suddenly on Aug. 4.

Reports said he failed a drug test, and the NFL Players Association has filed a request for arbitration in the case.

Gene Upshaw, the union’s executive director, told The Associated Press that the NFLPA will continue to press the case.

“We have to,” he said, adding that part of the grievance involves potential salary loss to Carter.

Carter gives the Jets the experienced backup they didn’t have.

Neither of the other two quarterbacks, second-year man Brooks Bollinger nor Ricky Ray, who played in the Canadian Football League, has ever taken an NFL snap.

“I’m looking forward to being a Jet and also helping this football team winning games however I can,” Carter said. “I’m just so excited to have a job right now.”

Carter, a second-round draft choice by the Cowboys in 2001, started all 31 games in which he played for Dallas, including 17 last season – 16 in the regular season and one in the playoffs.

In his career, he has 507 completions in 902 attempts for 5,839 yards with 29 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.

Known for his mobility, he has run 140 times for 498 yards.

“To not give someone an opportunity because they made a mistake would not be fair,” Jets coach Herman Edwards said.

“We got a guy who you think is a good quarterback and can upgrade your position. If I was concerned about (any off-field problems), he’d probably not be a Jet.

“Our whole job is making sure Quincy can be a good football player. and all we can do to help him off the field and on the field, we are going to do.”

Bills

Rookie quarterback J.P. Losman was taken off the field Tuesday afternoon with an injury to his left ankle.

Losman was hurt an hour into practice as he finished a run.

As Losman was pulling up, cornerback Troy Vincent laid a shoulder into his upper body, knocking the quarterback over.

Losman immediately started limping and fell to the ground. Trainers attended to him for about five minutes on the field, and Vincent came over and shook his hand.

Losman needed help getting up and was unable to put any weight on the injured leg.

He was taken to the locker room on a cart.

He was selected with the 22nd overall pick, Buffalo’s second of the first round.

He is being groomed as Drew Bledsoe’s eventual successor.

Vikings

Cornerback Derek Ross, who tied for the NFL rookie lead in interceptions two years ago, was signed Tuesday by Minnesota.

New Orleans was the latest team to waive Ross, a third-round pick by Dallas in 2002.

Ross started nine games that season and had five interceptions. He also returned kicks.

The Saints let the former Ohio State player go after he missed a plane and failed to report on time.

He was released by Dallas in December and was signed by Atlanta, where he played two games.

Brian Williams, one of Minnesota’s starting cornerbacks, has a sprained knee and might not play in the Sept. 12 opener.

Texans

Defensive end Gary Walker will rest for a week to 10 days to allow his strained groin to heal.

Walker, the Texans’ two-time Pro Bowl lineman, tweaked the muscle during practice Monday and was helped off the field.

The team was worried enough about the injury to call for an MRI, which revealed a mild strain.

“He should be ready for the opener,” general manager Charley Casserly said. Walker, in his 10th NFL season, earned his second Pro Bowl trip in the Texans’ inaugural 2002 season. He never was healthy last season as he was bothered by a variety of ailments, most notably a dislocated right toe that eventually landed him on injured reserve.

Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up training camp Tuesday without even taking the field at McDaniel College. The reason: their loss at Philadelphia in the second preseason game and center Mike Flynn’s broken collarbone.

A Sunday afternoon workout was scrapped, as was Tuesday morning’s scheduled 90-minute finale.

“Everybody was kind of surprised,” running back Jamal Lewis said. “Nobody thought Brian Billick would give us a day off, but he did, and we’re going to take advantage of it.”

This camp was perhaps the least physical in Billick’s six years as coach. But the list of those missing or injured grew to 15 before the team closed camp two days early.

“Football is a physical game,” backup quarterback Kordell Stewart said. “The things you can’t control, you just have to be prepared for them.”

Browns

Defensive tackle Gerard Warren hopes that his old number will make him a new player.

The fourth-year pro has exchanged his No. 94 jersey for No. 61, the number he wore as a star in college at Florida, hoping to reverse his disappointing play in Cleveland.

“It’s a different attitude and approach to the game,” Warren said. “It’s what got me here. What I was before I got here is what I want to be when I leave here, if not better than what I was.

“I woke up one day and decided I was going to go get 61 and play the way I used to play.”

Warren hasn’t been the dominating force the Browns expected when the team made him the third overall selection in the 2001 draft.

Warren spent much of the offseason in Cleveland and lost 27 pounds, reporting to camp at 320.

“He does have the potential to be an awesome player,” coach Butch Davis said.

“He’s got attitude, speed and explosiveness.”