Panthers look to lean on Lewis for special teams work

By Darin Gantt

CHARLOTTE -- Come Sunday, Keith Lewis could be playing gunner on punts for the Panthers. He prepared for the potentially hazardous duty by going to spin class, after flying across country not knowing whether he had a job or not.

Lewis signed with the Panthers on Wednesday night, in Charlotte on a one-week roster exemption for the suspended Dante Wesley.

“He's a guy that's had some experience in the kicking game at a pretty high level, and we'll see what he can do,” coach John Fox said.

If Lewis is active for Sunday's game against Buffalo, he'll likely be in a lot of the special teams roles occupied by Wesley, including the outside job on the punt team. It was from there that Wesley whacked Tampa Bay returner Clifton Smith, earning the one-week suspension without pay.

The Panthers contacted Lewis on Monday night, and he flew from his Sacramento, Calif., home Tuesday for a late-afternoon workout. But until the Panthers knew if Wesley was going to appeal the suspension, they didn't have a roster spot for the former San Francisco safety.

So Lewis was left to cool his heels and spin his wheels while he waited.

“I basically sat in the hotel staring at the ceiling; it was just a waiting game,” Lewis said. “I played basketball, worked out in the morning. Then my girl had me doing spin class at night. It was intense, but it paid off.”

Lewis is an experienced special teamer, what the Panthers lack without Wesley. So even though his trip to Charlotte could be a short one, he knows anything he does this week could help him find more work.

“No matter what, you get a call from anybody in the NFL, you look at it as an opportunity,” Lewis said.

“Hopefully, it's an opportunity to stay here. At the same time, it is what it is. You take it game by game and day by day.”

Lewis isn't an unknown commodity in Charlotte. Safeties coach Mike Gillhamer was his position coach at Oregon, and special teams assistant Jeff Rodgers coached him with the 49ers.

Also, quarterback A.J. Feeley and tight end Dante Rosario were college teammates with the Ducks.

INJURY UPDATE — Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis was held out of practice Thursday (hamstring). Fox offered no further information on his absence.

If he can't play, it's a serious blow to a defense playing much better lately. Davis leads the team with 55 tackles.

Kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd (ankle) was held out for the second straight day. For the good news, running back Jonathan Stewart (Achilles), fullback Brad Hoover (back) and linebacker Na'il Diggs (ribs) practiced fully after taking Wednesday off.

For the Bills, quarterback Trent Edwards (concussion) was held out for the second straight day, making it more likely that Ryan Fitzpatrick will start.

APOLOGY ACCEPTED — Smith told reporters in Florida on Thursday that he got a call from Wesley, apologizing for the hit.

The Bucs Pro Bowl return man suffered a concussion, and it's unclear if he'll play in this weekend's game in London, though he will travel. He said he didn't remember the incident, in which Wesley left his feet and slammed into him with his shoulder during a punt just before halftime. Smith didn't return to the game, and Wesley was immediately ejected. Smith didn't practice Wednesday, but was limited for Thursday's work.

Bucs coach Raheem Morris called the hit “a cheap shot,” though Smith downplayed it, telling reporters there he was fine.

“I was definitely worried afterwards, but it wasn't as bad as a lot of people that it was,” Smith said. “It's football, and things happen. I'll bounce back and be good to go. Just like Raheem said, gunfighters get shot sometimes. I took mine on the chin, and we'll move forward from here.”

He said he appreciated Wesley's gesture earlier this week.

“He explained just like he had it in the paper, he was just trying to make a play,” Smith said. “It's understandable. He apologized, and I accepted his apology and appreciated it. I'll see him again.”