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Carter will miss season after tearing ACL
Panthers' wide-receiver corps has been depleted by rash of injuries, two-game suspension of Smith
AP File Photo
Jason Carter often stayed for extra practice during the Panthers’ training camp.
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Published: August 26, 2008
CHARLOTTE - Jason Carter had been one of the emerging "finds" throughout the Carolina Panthers' offseason workouts and in training camp.
Now, the Panthers will have to find someone else to emerge at wide receiver -- and maybe punt returner, too.
The Panthers put Carter on Injured Reserve yesterday after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the team's 47-3 preseason victory against Washington on Saturday night. He tore the anterior-cruciate ligament in his right knee after returning a punt 30 yards in the fourth quarter.
"He had a real strong possibility of making our football team," Coach John Fox said yesterday. "My heart goes out to him because I know that's tough. But if he works like that, he'll be back next year."
The Panthers were already lacking depth at wide receiver with three others -- Muhsin Muhammad, D.J. Hackett and Ryne Robinson -- sidelined with injuries Saturday night. And Carter was subbing as a punt returner for Robinson, who is not expected to be back from a knee injury in time for the regular-season opener at San Diego on Sept. 7.
To add to their depth problems, the Panthers will be without Steve Smith for the first two regular-season games while he serves his suspension.
Muhammad, who was held out Saturday night after suffering a concussion against Philadelphia on Aug. 14, practiced yesterday and then acknowledged the dwindling numbers at the position. Robinson is out indefinitely and Hackett hasn't practiced in two weeks because of a lingering toe injury.
"It is a concern," Muhammad said. "It's really amazing as you look across the league at how many receivers are down right now. It's given opportunities for a lot of other guys. The whole Steve being out the first couple of games and with our numbers being depleted, it's a good thing our running backs are running as well as they are right now. Guys like myself, D.J. Hackett, Dwayne Jarrett, Travis Taylor, we're going to have to step up and make some plays."
The Panthers have 10 wide receivers on their 75-man roster -- Muhammad, Smith, Hackett, Jarrett, Taylor, Robinson, Dominique Thompson, William Buchanon, Sean Bailey and Chris Hannon. They will cut down to their 53-man roster on Saturday and must decide whether to keep four or five receivers, plus Smith (who won't count against the 53).
Carter, a former Texas A&M quarterback-turned-receiver, was entering his third NFL season. He spent most of last season on the Panthers' practice squad after being released by Minnesota. The longer he was with the Panthers, the more he impressed them. He had caught five passes for 51 yards in three preseason games, and had made several spectacular catches in practice.
"He had been awesome in camp," Muhammad said. "All of offseason training, he's really been working hard. I just thought that he's done a phenomenal job. Man, we would really use a guy like that. He's done just about everything the coaches have asked him to do and probably gone a little bit beyond that. It's just unfortunate to see a young guy like that get hurt."
Fox said that the Panthers would monitor the waiver wire this week for any receivers or punt returners that come available. Since Carter was filling in for Robinson as a punt returner, that job is wide open until Robinson returns.
The Panthers will play at Pittsburgh on Thursday night in their final preseason game, and Fox mentioned Chris Gamble, Ricardo Colclough and Decori Birmingham as possibilities to return punts.
"We're pursuing all options," Fox said. "As with any position, we'll do whatever we feel's best to improve our team. We've got some guys that have done that before. We'll take a look at them, and we'll always be looking at the wire."
The Panthers made four other roster moves yesterday. They waived defensive end Casper Brinkley, tight end Chris Conklin and quarterback Lester Ricard, and they released cornerback Curtis DeLoatch.
■ John Delong can be reached at jdelong@wsjournal.com.
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