Another week, another group of new starting Panther linebackers

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- It's a new week, so it only makes sense that Panthers middle linebacker Jon Beason is getting used to new faces on either side of him.

With Thomas Davis on injured reserve the last two weeks, backup Landon Johnson going there Tuesday and Na'il Diggs iffy with a rib injury, the Panthers are looking at another mixed-up group against the New York Jets' second-ranked running game.

“I think as far as the linebacker group is concerned, we're a close-knit group,” Beason said. “We know each other, we know each other's strengths and weaknesses, and we feel like if someone goes down, we can fill a guy in there and keep rolling.

“That's the story of our life this year as far as the Carolina Panthers are concerned. A lot of injuries, but guys are still stepping up and doing fairly well.”

Dan Connor said after working at all three spots at various points this year, this week he's focusing on playing the strong side in Diggs' spot, with James Anderson filling in for Davis and Johnson at the weak side.

“Everyone is getting banged up,” Connor said. “It's a long season, so I had to learn Sam this week and James is out at the Will. If you're a backup, you have to learn all three positions. It's a big game and it's going to be a show of character. ...

“I've tried to learn as many positions as possible and tried to be a utility linebacker and work on special teams. Just trying to stay up with three different positions is hard. It's been the biggest job.”

The injuries will complicate their special-teams allotment, since the only healthy backups are now Kelvin Smith (called up from the practice squad two weeks ago when Davis went on IR) and Jordan Senn, the former Colts special teamer signed Tuesday to replace Johnson on the roster.

“James Anderson has played for us; he knows the defense,” coach John Fox said. “Dan Connor has played, so he can slide in there, too. We're starting to get a little thin.

“It does affect our kicking game with guys you have active for special teams. But we'll evaluate it as the week goes on and see what's going to give us the best chance to win, and that's who we'll go with.”

Diggs said he's not ready to count himself completely out, and that the rib injury wasn't as severe as the one that caused him to miss the Week 3 game in Dallas. He said he felt the pain immediately while taking down Miami tight end Joey Haynos against Miami last Thursday, saying that Haynos landed squarely on his sternum as they fell together.

“This is nowhere near what I had at the beginning of the year,” Diggs said. “As far as pain and how much I was affected by it, it's nowhere near that. Painful? Yes. But nowhere near the magnitude of earlier in the season.

“I think there's a chance (he could play). We're still going to go day-to-day and see how things go. I'm feeling optimistic about it and I'm going to stay optimistic about it and hopefully I can get out there against the Jets.”

SAFETY SHUFFLE — Incumbent free safety Charles Godfrey was back on the practice field Wednesday for the first time in a month, but it remains unclear what his role will be this weekend. Backup Sherrod Martin stepped in and played incredibly well, with three interceptions in four weeks, tripling Godfrey's output in his first 22 starts.

Godfrey said he felt fine after testing his right ankle and making cuts but didn't know what that meant in terms of his role for the game against the Jets.

“We're back there rotating,” Godfrey said.

“You never know, my ankle's feeling good right now, but who knows how it will feel tomorrow, who knows how it will feel after that? Just hoping and praying that everything stays well and I keep going forward and don't take no steps back.”