Aug. 21, 2008

Updated 4:15 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 24

One of the Panthers’ most-prized free-agent signings from the offseason, WR D.J. Hackett, has yet to participate in a preseason game and missed much of training camp with a toe injury. It’s not expected to keep him sidelined into the regular season, although the fifth-year veteran does have a reputation of being injury-prone. The larger concern, the way we hear it, is that Week One could be the first time he takes the field with QB Jake Delhomme in a game situation. Carolina’s top target, WR Steve Smith, will be out for the first two regular-season games serving a suspension, and the team is counting on Hackett to help fill the playmaking void. With a lack of familiarity and preparation time, Hackett and Delhomme may find it hard to connect with each other early on. Delhomme isn’t expected to play in the final preseason game, so Hackett and Delhomme will not play together in a game prior to the start of the regular season. Hackett isn't the only member of the Panthers’ receiving corps who has been beaten up. Muhsin Muhammad has been nursing an injury to his ribs, but he’s expected to be the squad’s No. 1 target with Smith out.