Panthers Davis practices, Jags Taylor will play this week

By John Onan | Tuesday, August 23, 2005 | ( 0 )

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Two of the top running backs in the league have returned to action, but one is closer to being ready than the other.
Carolina Panthers star runner Stephen Davis received a thunderous ovation from the fans as he made his way onto the field in his first practice since having surgery on his right knee in November. He opened training camp on the Panthers PUP (Physically unable to perform) list as the team tries to bring him along slowly before beginning contact drills. He participated in some light individual workouts.

He will not be ready to suit up and play when Carolina faces the Cleveland Browns on Friday night, but he hopes to see some action in the team's pre-season finale at home against Pittsburgh on September 1st. For now, DeShaun Foster will hold down the starting running back spot.
The Carolina Panthers begin the regular season on September 11th against the team that defeated them in week 17 in 2004, division rival New Orleans.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor also is recovering from knee surgery, but he is expected to make his pre-season debut on Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons.

Jags head coach Jack Del Rio said that Taylor will play sparingly against Atlanta, and will sit out the final pre-season game at Dallas as a precaution because the game will be on artificial turf. Taylor dressed for Jacksonville's game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night, but did not play.
Fred Taylor had started 48 consecutive games for the team before he was forced to miss the final two games in 2004 after injuring his left knee on December 19th against the Green Bay Packers. Before this week, Taylor has been limited to one practice a day and did not participate in any contact drills for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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