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Panthers Notebook: Fox stays mum on injury updates

COMPILED BY JOHN DELONG

Published: January 7, 2009

■ The Panthers returned to practice yesterday for the first time since Friday, but under NFL rules they aren't required to give any injury updates until today.

So Coach John Fox took full advantage of the rules and declined to talk about any specific injuries after practice. Fox also has a policy prohibiting media from reporting on what they observe during closed practices.

"We don't have to give that information out and I'm not one to put out information sooner than I have to," Fox said.

However, tackle Jeff Otah said that he was healthy again after missing part of the Panthers' win at New Orleans in the regular-season finale with a bruised toe. And safety Chris Harris said that the defense was excited to get defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu back. Kemoeatu missed the past two games with an ankle injury, and Lewis sat out against New Orleans with a shoulder injury.

"The bye was great," Harris said. "It comes at a great time. Guys are nicked up, injured, hurt. That was big for us because we had both of our tackles out. Now, it's great to get those two guys back. So I think the bye did us well."

■ The Panthers played one of their most uninspired games of the season after their open date, struggling to win at Oakland 17-6 on Nov. 9.

Last season, the Panthers lost five straight after their open date.

But quarterback Jake Delhomme said yesterday that shouldn't be any cause for concern, with the Panthers coming back from a week off thanks to their first-round bye.

"We struggled a little bit in Oakland, I will give you that," Delhomme said. "But this is a different baby in itself than a bye week in the season. Our work last week was extremely good going against our defense. It was competitive drills and guys were into it."

■ There's a 40-percent chance of rain in Charlotte on Saturday, which might seem to work to the Panthers' advantage since the Cardinals like to pass often.

But Fox wasn't about to make such a statement yesterday.

"Both teams have got to react to the conditions, whether it's rain, cold, wind," Fox said. "I've never put a lot of stock in that."