Injuries ‘R’ Us

If this keeps up there may not be anybody left to wear a Panthers uniform.  Dwayne Jarrett was carted off the field Monday at practice.  Steve Reed at the Gaston Gazette gives us an update.

"Second-year wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett gave the team a scare after he was carted off the field Monday night.The good news is the injury doesn’t appear to be serious.After practice team officials said Jarrett was fine, saying he had a “bruised right leg.”Jarrett bruised his right knee during Saturday night’s game against the Colts. It’s unclear if the two are related.A second-round pick in 2007, Jarrett was running a route when he got injured. It didn’t appear that he collided with anyone."

Let’s hope that when this is over and there are no more two a days and the team is making final preparations for the season, that all they have left are a few bruises and scrapes.

"NOTABLE: Fox was asked about his decision to remove Jake Delhomme from Saturday night’s game after just two offensive series.Delhomme took just six snaps and attempted one pass.“As the head coach, those are tough calls,” Fox said. “I would have liked for him to have gotten more throws, and he would have liked to, too. But at the end of the day we’ve got three (preseason) games left. He’ll get a little more time this week against Philadelphia. I just didn’t want to risk it.”"

Honestly, the first three preseason games are the most critical.  The third game is the one that will give the starters the most time on the field – sometimes as much as a full half of play.

Thursday’s game against Philadelphia will ramp things up a notch.  Let’s hope that Jake gets in at least two throws in this one.

"DEPTH CHART WATCH: Keydrick Vincent appears to have won the battle with Toniu Fonoti for the starting right guard spot.Vincent, who started Saturday night, continued to work with the first team Monday. Initially there was some thought the Panthers might flip-flop Vincent and Toniu Fonoti in every other preseason game to determine which one they liked better, but it seems they have locked in on the 6-foot-5, 325-pound Vincent, who has started 49 games in seven seasons.The Panthers like what they saw from their first-team offense this past weekend and might be reluctant to mess with that chemistry.“We blocked well. I thought we took the next step,” Fox said. “We don’t cut block in practice. (When) you get into a game element, it’s a little bit different, and I thought we operated pretty well there. I liked our pass rush early on with our first unit. Then I thought there were some spotty things that need work. I thought it was a pretty good outing overall for the first time.”"

I have to admit to pulling for Fonoti since he had such a tough start in the league but we have to hope for the best five guys to make the lineup.  Here’s to hoping Vincent is among the best five.  I am convinced that Fonoti is a near lock to make the final roster.

"ON THE RISE: Fox believes too much is being made of Julius Peppers switch from left end to right end.“He’s looked at home on the left side, too,” Fox said. “He’s had some great years there. So I don’t know that it’s so much sides.“I think if you asked him he’s probably more comfortable, because his stance is natural over there. I think Julius worked very hard this off-season, and he came ready to play. For the most part, he’s done that. I think everybody highlights on that one (2007) season, but he’s had a lot of good years prior to that.”Peppers averaged more than 10 sacks per season over his first five years, but had just 2.5 last year."

No one here was making a big deal about Peppers’ move, coach.  We saw him play Saturday night and…well…we made a big deal of that!