Welcome to Independent Tribune Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

independenttribune.com - Independent Tribune

HomeNewsEntertainmentSportsLifestylesOpinionCommunityWeather Online Tools Jobs | Real Estate | Shopping | Classified

Panthers Notebook: Lewis, Kemoeatu say they'll be ready to go against Cards

COMPILED BY JOHN DELONG

Published: January 8, 2009

■ Defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu went through full practice yesterday for the second day in a row and both said they will be ready for Saturday night's playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Lewis missed the Panthers' 33-31 win at New Orleans in the regular-season finale because of a shoulder injury suffered the previous week in a 34-28 overtime road loss to the New York Giants. Kemoeatu missed both of those games after suffering an ankle injury in the Panthers' 30-10 win over Denver on Dec. 14.

Lewis said he couldn't have played last week had the Panthers been in one of the NFC wild-card games, but he felt better thanks to the Panthers' first-round bye.

"It feels great," Lewis said. "I'm just a little sore today, and I was a little sore after yesterday's practice, which was expected. But the strength is holding up well. My mobility is good. I'm able to lock out and do the things I was doing before I got hurt. We've got braces to keep it from getting too far out of whack, so I think it'll be good."

Kemoeatu said he was anxious to play again.

"I feel great," Kemoeatu said. "I have been out of the loop for about three weeks, so it's great to get back in. I feel 100 percent this week, and I'm ready to go."

■ The only Panther who didn't practice yesterday was offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner, who suffered an ankle injury against New Orleans. Hangartner started the final two regular-season games at right guard after Keydrick Vincent was put on inured reserve.

The Panthers' remaining backup offensive linemen are Jeremy Bridges, who has split time between guard and tackle this season, tackle Frank Omiyale and guard Mackenzy Bernadeau.

■ The Cardinals haven't forgotten one of the key plays in the Panthers' 27-23 victory at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 26.

They disputed Steve Smith's 65-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, saying that Smith stepped out of bounds near midfield after catching the pass in the flat -- in front of the Arizona bench.

Smith's touchdown and John Kasay's PAT gave the Panthers a 24-23 lead at the time.

"If you are asking me, I am absolutely sure that he was out of bounds," Coach Ken Whisenhunt said in a teleconference with Charlotte-area media. "That's the play of the game. That's the way it goes. I am not trying to do anything to diminish his play. He made a great play. I just hope he had a rag to wipe that white paint off his shoes."

The Cardinals challenged the ruling on the field at the time, but the replay official confirmed the call on the field.

"I was probably within 10 yards of it," Whisenhunt said. "Our special-teams coach, Kevin Spencer, was standing right there. I understand we are jaded. But maybe it was one of those things where we saw something we wanted to see just because it was so devastating when he made that play."