Wharton back at practice

Panthers' starting left guard may play against Atlanta

Travelle Wharton practiced on a limited basis Wednesday for the first time since the Carolina Panthers' starting left guard sprained his right knee more than two weeks ago in the season-opener.

After Jake Delhomme was sacked five times in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, the Panthers are hopeful Wharton will return and replace backup Geoff Hangartner this week against the Atlanta Falcons.

Fox would say only that Wharton looked "good" in practice. Wharton was getting treatment after the workout and didn't speak to reporters.

"It is a big boost," Delhomme said of Wharton. "It's evident by what we signed him to in the offseason. He's a very steady player and a very solid football player."

The Panthers gave Wharton a six-year, $36 million deal that includes $12 million in guaranteed money.

Three defensive starters missed practice: safety Chris Harris (knee), linebacker Na'il Diggs (shoulder) and defensive end Tyler Brayton (ankle).

Kick returner Ryne Robinson (knee) practiced on a limited basis, along with tackle Jordan Gross (ankle) and linebacker Thomas Davis (ankle).

Quarterback Matt Moore (broken leg) remains sidelined but was out of his walking boot Wednesday.

* This week presents many ugly memories for Delhomme. It was one year ago Tuesday that he shredded the ligament in his right elbow against Atlanta, and on Sunday he plays the Falcons for the first time since undergoing reconstructive surgery.

"I don't look at it as remarkable. I'm just happy I'm still back here fielding questions," he said.

Delhomme has completed 57 percent of his passes, with one touchdown and one interception. He has a passer rating of 74.7. But after leading the Panthers to two comeback wins the first two weeks, the offense struggled in Sunday's 20-10 loss to Minnesota.

* The Panthers re-signed linebacker Donte Curry to replace injured Dan Connor.

Curry was released last week when receiver Steve Smith was activated after his two-game suspension. But Curry was brought back Wednesday, two days after tests showed Connor tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the loss to Minnesota.

The Panthers also signed defensive end Casper Brinkley to the practice squad Wednesday and released receiver Titus Ryan.

HARRIS HAS SPLEEN INJURY: Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy says cornerback Al Harris has a "serious" spleen injury that requires a cautious approach.

But he's not yet ruling out one of the team's top defensive players for the rest of the season.

Harris was injured in the first quarter of the Packers' loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. The injury is believed to be a ruptured spleen.

BILLS' PARRISH OUT: Buffalo Bills receiver Roscoe Parrish will miss four to six weeks after having surgery to repair ligament damage in his right thumb.

Coach Dick Jauron said Wednesday that Parrish was hurt during the fourth quarter of a 24-23 win over the Oakland Raiders.

FORMER GIANT LYNCH DIES: Dick Lynch, who starred at cornerback for the New York Giants during their glory years in the late 1950s and early 1960s and was a longtime radio analyst for the team, has died. He was 72.

Lynch, who had been treated for leukemia, died Wednesday morning, family members said.

Lynch played in the NFL from 1958 to 1966 -- his first season with the Washington Redskins and the last eight with the Giants. He had 37 career interceptions, including nine each in 1961 in 1963. He had four returns for touchdowns, three in 1963.

He is perhaps best known for a 3-yard touchdown run in 1957 that gave Notre Dame a 7-0 win over Oklahoma, ending the Sooners 47-game winning streak.

After his playing days, he turned to radio and was the Giants' color commentator from 1968 until this year.

MATT BRYANT'S INFANT SON DIES: Matthew Tryson Bryant, the 3-month-old son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant, died Wednesday.

"The entire Buccaneer family is deeply saddened by this tragedy," general manager Bruce Allen said in a team statement.