Wednesday update: Plans can change

[Laetitia]

Panthers coach John Fox said Wednesday, before heading for the airport, that his plan was to play his starters "about a quarter," in Thursday's preseason finale at Pittsburgh.

"But like all plans," he added quickly, "they can adjust."

In recent years, Fox has kept all his starters off the field for the final preseason game, and that could extend into the Steelers game.

He laughed when asked if WR Steve Smith or RB Jonathan Stewart might play, referring to them as "game-time decisions."

-- He did rattle off the list of guys who didn't practice Wednesday. It's largely the same as recent days, with the addition of G C.J. Davis (head).

We even asked if he meant C.J. Wilson (also out, with a head), since sometimes he gets confused -- like on Tuesday when he referred to released WR Oliver "Tre" Young as "Tre Oliver."

But Fox confirmed that he had all his C.J.s in order.

Also not making the trip, per his list, will be DE Tyler Brayton, CBs Richard Marshall and Captain Munnerlyn, S Aaron Francisco, RB Tyrell Sutton and RT Jeff Otah.

-- Darin Gantt

More...

[Snake]

Damn Half of our CBs are not playing LOL.

[Razzy]

Sit the entire team. Who cares? I'd rather have a panthers preseason loss than missing starters in week 1.

[KatsAzz]

I hope Fox does play our first team starters the whole first quarter...The opening regular season game with the Giants (9-12-10),is just around the corner and our offene could certainly use more work to help get it going.

[caatfan]

Injured starters vs. more work. It's always a crap shoot.

[HPPantherzfan]

Our first team needs the work, Dallas is going to do the same thing.

Besides if Clausen plays the whole game and ends up scoring 3 TD's and 300 yards there will be sh!t storm all over the place

Note: I promise ahead of time, I will not make any Clausen threads after the next game

[CRA]

Fox's idea of starters playing probably doesn't include Williams, Smitty, Stewart.

all I know is Beason should not see the field.

[PantherFanOne]

We certainly can't go to New York with the offense playing the way it is and expect to be competive.

I say let the starters play for an extended period of time,maybe the whole first quarter.

[Frizzy350]

We certainly can't go to New York with the offense playing the way it is and expect to be competive.

I say let the starters play for an extended period of time,maybe the whole first quarter.

if our defense plays like the way it is, and we have smitty, i dont see why itll be a problem

[Jangler]

called it two or three days ago.

[CRA]

We certainly can't go to New York with the offense playing the way it is and expect to be competive.

I say let the starters play for an extended period of time,maybe the whole first quarter.

our offense is Double Trouble and Smitty. Whatever we see in preseason simply isn't going to be the Panther offense.

[pantherclaw]

No amount of play in the first quarter is going to affect regular season opener.

[Seamonk]

It'll be nice to see the first team defense.. Hey i need something to get excited about...

I'm not worried about the offense. As soon as Steve Smith steps onto that field, coverages flow his way whether he's 100% or not. That means other receivers get open easier. It means safeties think twice about getting in the box. It means you'll see less blitzing since with at least 2 people on smith, that leaves ALL dumpoffs open when you blitz more than 1.

Like many of our panther years, Steve Smith is our offense, even when he's not the one making the plays. His impact will be enough.