Harris says he'll be healthy to play in season opener

By Darin Gantt - Darin Gantt

CHARLOTTE -- He wasn't back out at practice, but he was running with grass under his feet, a step Chris Harris has been waiting for.

The Panthers' strong safety is near a return from his training camp groin strain, hoping to be back for the preseason finale. Any question about his long-term prognosis, however, dissipated when asked if he'd be ready for the regular season.

"Oh, absolutely," he said in reference to the Sept. 7 game at San Diego. "No doubt, no doubt."

Harris admitted he didn't think he'd have been out this long when he pulled up lame on Aug. 4, straining a groin muscle. He said he's busied himself in the training room since then, running on treadmills and working in the pool, but there was something about being off the exercise bike and on the fields again.

"Getting excited to finally get out here," he said. "It's very frustrating. I want to be on the field. Every time I come out here, I just get to ride a bike and watch. It's difficult for me, but I'm trying my best to stay fine-tuned in the meetings so I don't miss a beat when I get back out here."

Coach John Fox was likewise optimistic he'd get wide receiver D.J. Hackett back on the field soon.

Hackett was missing camp time with a swollen knee before a toe injury knocked him out. He finished just 10 practices in Spartanburg, never going twice in a day, and hasn't practiced at all since Aug. 6.

Fox was asked if Hackett would play at all in the preseason, and he replied: "There is that possibility."

"Right now, my hope is to get a lot of those guys back on Monday," Fox said. "Whether that comes to reality or not, I don't know yet; that's up to our medical people."

Hackett looked good during camp, particularly in red-zone drills when he was able to use his size to his advantage. But he hasn't caught a pass from quarterback Jake Delhomme in a game yet, which is a legitimate concern since he'd likely be called to start (if Hackett's well) while Steve Smith serves his two-game suspension.

"The key is he has caught passes from a lot of good quarterbacks, not to take anything away from the timing that you develop with your own quarterback," Fox said. "I'd prefer that he be out there, and so would he. The reality is he hasn't been. But we saw quite a bit of him in the (Organized Team Activities) and at camp before the injury. We're just hoping to get him back out there as soon as possible."

• ROSTER MOVE: The Panthers parted ways with injured defensive tackle Ian Scott on Wednesday, further thinning a thin position.

Scott suffered a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee early in camp and was still weeks away from coming back. By reaching the settlement with him now, they left the door open for him to return later this year. He'd be eligible to after Week 9.

"He did everything right," Fox said of Scott. "This kid was a guy we liked. It was very unfortunate, but the way it worked out, there is a chance when he gets healthy we can bring him back later in the season. I felt like we dealt with him fairly. It was nothing he did wrong; actually, he did a fantastic job for us."

The Panthers were hoping he and Darwin Walker would give them an experienced pair of backups when they signed him after the draft. Now, former practice squader Gary Gibson's working with the second group after finishing a strong camp and earning the respect of teammates and coaches.

They still have sixth-round pick Nick Hayden, who has shown little thus far, but they're expected to be closely monitoring the waiver wire for help in the coming weeks. The position has been in flux all offseason, since they traded Kris Jenkins and let former backup Kindal Moorehead go without an offer.

They filled Scott's roster spot by signing former Georgia wide receiver Sean Bailey, who had been in Kansas City camp earlier this year. Bailey is the son of former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Stacey Bailey.

• EXTRA POINTS: Fox indicated it was likely first-round running back Jonathan Stewart would get some time behind the first offensive line Saturday night.

He has just four carries for 3 yards in the preseason, all behind the second line last week in Philadelphia. ...

Fox also said he expected cornerback Ken Lucas to play against Washington. Lucas missed two weeks after Smith broke his nose on Aug. 1, but has practiced all this week. ...

Rookie tight end Gary Barnidge returned to practice for the first time in more than two weeks, after healing from a gluteal strain.

"Unlike a D.J. Hackett, he's not got a lot of games under his belt," Fox said. "He is a rookie, and he is new to our system. I was seeing progress (before he got injured). Obviously, it was a setback, and we are anxious to get him back in there."