The Carolina Panthers signed receiver Samie Parker on Tuesday, easing the strain on a position that's been hit hard by preseason injuries.
Parker, released this week by Denver, could play Thursday, when the Panthers conclude their exhibition season at Pittsburgh.
The Panthers cut receiver Sean Bailey to make room for Parker.
Parker caught 110 passes for seven touchdowns in four seasons with Kansas City. He's also fast: He was a sprinter on Oregon's track team in college.
In addition to not having the suspended Steve Smith for the regular-season opener in San Diego, three Panthers receivers – Ryne Robinson, Jason Carter and D.J. Hackett – have been injured in the preseason. Carter is lost for the season with a torn knee ligament, and it's uncertain whether Robinson (knee) or Hackett (toe) will be ready for the Chargers game.
That leaves Muhsin Muhammad and Dwayne Jarrett as the only sure things, although Dominique Thompson and Travis Taylor have been with the team throughout the preseason.
With Robinson and Carter out, coach John Fox hopes Parker also might help with returns, although he doesn't have any experience returning kicks or punts in the NFL.
“He's got speed and quickness,” said Fox of Parker. “We'll see how he adapts.”
Briefly
Tuesday's heavy rains forced the Panthers to move their practice from their fields adjacent to Bank of America Stadium inside to the stadium's concourse.
“It would be like practicing here in this room,” Fox told reporters in the stadium's media work area. “You could do it, but it wouldn't be fun.”
Still, the morning wasn't a total washout, at least to quarterback Jake Delhomme.
“You either get nothing out of it, or something,” he said. “And I really believe we got something. We didn't have a lot of repeated plays and usually you see a lot. Little things like that, you see the makeup of a team on days like this.”
Thursday's Steelers game is critical for players still uncertain if they'll make the team. The Panthers will cut 21 players on Saturday to get to the regular-season roster size of 53.
“There's nothing easy about cutting down that roster,” Fox said. “Nothing.”
Delhomme figures to play one or two series with the rest of the starters Thursday.
Tight end
Dante Rosario's 24-yard touchdown reception from Delhomme in the Panthers' 47-3 victory on Saturday against Washington might have been a hint of things to come. The Panthers have been playing more two tight-end sets with Rosario and
Jeff King.
“It plays with the defense a little bit and works to our advantage for me to stretch the field,” said Rosario. “We don't necessarily have to go to a four wide-receiver look. We can do a lot of things with two tight ends.”
Carter said Tuesday that he had never been injured playing football – never even missing a practice – before suffering a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament . Carter said his knee gave way when he was making a cut. He had been expected to make the regular-season roster as a backup receiver and kick returner. He was put on injured reserve and is to have reconstructive surgery soon.
CHARLES CHANDLER
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