Comments from Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox following the team's practice.
On injuries: Did not participate - Jeff Otah (knee) and DeAngelo Williams (foot). Limited participation - Devin Thomas (groin). Full participation - Tyler Brayton (personal).
On when he'll start worrying about running back DeAngelo Williams' availability for this week's game against the St. Louis Rams: I worry about all of them. He's day-to-day. He gets a little bit better every day.
On if Williams will play against the Rams: If I knew that I'd probably be doing something else, like at the racetrack.
On if he feels good about the Panthers' depth at running back: You always prefer to have everybody healthy, and we could have everybody healthy. We'll make that evaluation; it usually goes to an hour and a half before kickoff.
On Williams' injury presenting an opportunity for running back Mike Goodson: He's a player we rely on. We use him in different situations aside from special teams. He's gotten his touches and will continue to do that. He's definitely gotten more practice time yesterday and today.
On Goodson's improvement as a kickoff returner: Like everything, the more you do it the better you get. It's experience, and I would expect him to grow in those experiences from year-to-year, game-to-game. Like any offensive play, which kickoff return is, blocking is paramount, and I think that's been better.
On the Panthers run defense and facing Rams running back Steven Jackson: It's an area - really every phase of our game whether it's offense, defense or special teams - that needs improvement, and we continue to do that. It's an area that we'll do our best to improve. He obviously presents a big problem. Their offensive line has been together every game so far this season. They haven't been plagued by injuries and they lean on the run game. I think it is going to be critical that we play the run well to win the football game. But they do present some problems because they've got good players doing it.
On the Rams familiarity with the Panthers because of defensive coordinator Ken Flajole and linebacker Na'il Diggs - a former Carolina coach and player, respectively: I think it's the same any time you've got people that have been together before. The familiarity works both ways. We're familiar with them and they're familiar with us. It's all fair in love and war.
