Jarrett isn't catching on fast

So which Carolina Panthers receiver eventually will start opposite Steve Smith?

Before training camp opened, the position seemed likely to be filled by second-round draft pick Dwayne Jarrett. But camp has seen Drew Carter and Keary Colbert get virtually all of the first-team snaps. Carter has drawn the assignment in both exhibitions.

"I think Drew and Keary have been very competitive in what they've been doing," receivers coach Richard Williamson said Wednesday. "We keep Drew outside. We've had Drew inside some but not as much. Keary is a little bit more used to being inside than Drew.

"When we have all three, we usually put Keary inside. And so far, it's worked OK. We've just got to get better at what we're doing."

What about Jarrett, who at 6 feet 4 was supposed to be the big target to complement Smith?

"Dwayne is coming along," Williamson said. "I think he's not quite as far along as those two guys at this point; he missed three or four days when he had that pulled hamstring. And for a young guy to miss, there's a lot of catching up you have to do. He's working at it; he had a pretty good game the other night."

INJURY UPDATE: Linebacker Na'il Diggs (hamstring) appeared to be recovered last week and played Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he is out of practice again this week.

"He came back, but he tweaked it a little bit, so we're just being very cautious," coach John Fox said.

Also missing practice with thigh injuries were linebacker Brandon Jamison and receiver Justin McCullum.

IN CAMP MODE: Fox was asked if his team was doing much game planning for the New England Patriots, who will play Carolina in an exhibition on Friday night at Bank of America Stadium.

"Very little," Fox said. "We're still installing (the team's offense and defense) and still really in camp mode; we just happen to be in Charlotte instead of Spartanburg.

"A little bit more goes into this (exhibition), and then the last one is treated like a regular-season game even though our starters don't play as much. And then we're on to St. Louis" for the regular-season opener on Sept. 9.

HOT PRACTICES: Normally, leaving their Wofford College training camp gives the team at least a slight break from a Spartanburg heat index that never seems to dip out of triple figures. The Panthers, though, returned to Charlotte for a Tuesday practice on a day the city's high temperature was 101 degrees.

Wednesday reached 99 later in the day.

"It doesn't feel that much cooler to me, that's for sure," Fox said, laughing. "At least we're out here (practicing) only once instead of twice."