... - Sports - Columns - Darin Gantt

Thursday, Sep. 25, 2008

Panthers glad to have Wharton back blocking

CHARLOTTE -- After watching their pass protection disappear last week, the Carolina Panthers got a bit of it back Wednesday.

Left guard Travelle Wharton returned to practice after missing the previous two weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. In his absence, the Panthers gave up a five-sack day in their loss to Minnesota.

Wharton didn't talk to reporters after practice, but those around him noticed the lift his return provided.

"It is a big boost, there's no doubt," quarterback Jake Delhomme said.

Delhomme mentioned the Panthers re-signed Wharton to a six-year, $35 million deal this offseason as all the evidence anyone needed. They moved him inside to guard, pairing him with left tackle Jordan Gross to replicate the second-half line from 2004 behind which Delhomme set passing records.

"I had an idea we were going to sign him, were going to go after him, and I knew he was probably going to play next to Jordan and I loved it," Delhomme said. "I know in '04, they played next to each other, they fit very well together. I thought it was a great move."

Wharton gives the Panthers a physical element inside which helps the run game as much as the pass game, something that contributed to the season-low 47 yards they posted against the Vikings.

• WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN: When Atlanta running back Michael Turner was thinking of teams he might end up with this offseason, you can tell he thought about the Panthers. The Falcons, not so much.

Turner said Wednesday during a conference call that Atlanta "came out of the blue," with a six-year, $34.5 million offer, which included $15 million in guarantees. Asked if Carolina was on his radar, he paused and said: "I probably heard some whispers about Carolina."

The Panthers went elsewhere for their power back, drafting Oregon's Jonathan Stewart with the 13th overall pick (and saving around $15 million in total contract value in the process).

New Falcons coach Mike Smith said he wasn't sure whether they thought the Panthers were in the running or not but said they made a concerted effort to land the former San Diego backup to help provide the personality for a rebuilt Falcons franchise.

"There is so much misinformation out, I don't recall who the other suitors were," Smith said. "We felt he was one that we really wanted to get on our football team, because of what we wanted to do philosophically, and that was to be able to have guy that can carry the load and run the football."

He's doing just that, leading the NFL with 366 yards.

• WELCOME BACK: Linebacker Donte Curry grinned when asked about his brief vacation, having been through similar situations before.

Curry was cut last Tuesday to make room for the reinstatement of Steve Smith then brought back this week when linebacker Dan Connor was lost for the year to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament.

The special-teamer recalled last year in Detroit, where the Lions cut him before the season, only to bring him back four weeks later and cut him again three weeks after that.

"You never know," Curry said. "I've been there before. It's one of those timing things. They told me they wanted to get me back as soon as possible, but you never know when as soon as possible's going to be."

Curry, who didn't play the first two games, almost certainly will be active this week replacing all of Connor's special-teams contributions. He made a good impression on the Panthers last year, ranking fourth on the team with 11 special-teams tackles while playing just seven games.

Although he didn't plan it that way, Curry said the break was welcome for him, as his wife gave birth to their fifth child on Aug. 31.

"So, the personal side was good," Curry said. "Being able to spend some time with the family, with the newborn was a good thing."

• INJURY UPDATE: The Panthers were running short at a few spots Wednesday, but nothing appears nearly as serious as the past few weeks on the injury report.

Defensive ends Tyler Brayton (ankle) and Charles Johnson (hamstring) were held out, necessitating them bringing back Casper Brinkley to the practice squad so they could have a decent practice.

Also out were strong safety Chris Harris (thigh) and linebacker Na'il Diggs (shoulder), though those looked more like maintenance days. Quarterback Matt Moore (leg) said he's no longer feeling pain in his left leg, but was "still a couple weeks away."

Four players were listed as limited: Left tackle Jordan Gross (ankle), Wharton (knee), wide receiver Ryne Robinson (knee) and linebacker Thomas Davis (ankle).