Panthers Lack of Depth at Safety is Shocking

So safety Nate Salley tweaked his knee in practice yesterday morning and spent the afternoon with Carolina Panthers trainers. His fellow starting safety, veteran Mike Minter, was also held out of the afternoon practice as a precaution.

That means the guys practicing at safety with the Panthers' first team yesterday afternoon were 7th-round pick C.J. Wilson and free agent journeyman Deke Cooper. Last I checked, there was nobody behind them, and doesn't that just warm your hearts, Panthers fans?

Thankfully, Salley's knee injury isn't serious. He's currently listed as day-to-day and might be back at normal speed by the end of next week. John Fox better hope so, anyway, as his team is counting on Salley to be the future at that spot. I get the feeling Marty Hurney saw who was practicing there yesterday afternoon and put a note in his Blackberry to check the waiver wire and the NFL Europe rosters.

Speaking of NFL Europe, Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer has a nice write-up on Philippe Gardent, the French linebacker hoping to find a spot on the Panthers roster. I'll save the cheap jokes about French headbutting for when they're actually funny.

UPDATE (1:15 PM): Carolina just signed a safety today -- former Virginia starter and career NFL reserve-squader Jermaine Hardy. I don't know much about him, but we should be nice to him. He's been through a lot.