The Carolina Panthers' three starting linebackers are also the team's leading tacklers, but one of them could be sent to the bench if Thomas Davis makes a successful return from a pair of surgeries on his right knee. Davis, who is on the physically unable to perform list, must practice by Wednesday to have a chance at playing this season. The Panthers would then have three weeks to decide whether to activate him or place him on injured reserve. Davis long has targeted next week's game at Tampa Bay as his return date, but Panthers coach John Fox was noncommittal. "We'll wait and see," Fox said. "We've got three weeks once he begins practicing to make a decision and we'll see how that goes." If Davis returns, middle linebacker Dan Connor is probably the odd man out. Source: Charlotte Observer
