CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — The Panthers have placed starting cornerback Captain Munnerlyn on injured reserve with a strained left hamstring.

Munnerlyn, a former Murphy High School standout, was injured on Sunday against the Houston Texans and had to leave the game.

Darius Butler, acquired off waivers earlier this season from the Patriots, will start Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coach Ron Rivera said.

R.J Stanford will be the team’s nickel back.

Munnerlyn had started all 14 games for the Panthers.

The Panthers signed cornerback Jonathan Nelson from the practice squad to take his place.

The Panthers are also likely to be without starting strong safety Charles Godfrey, who is out with a strained right shoulder. He’s listed as doubtful after missing practice again on Friday. If Godfrey can’t start, then Jordan Pugh will get the nod.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. A quick glimpse at the numbers suggests the Carolina Panthers should focus on upgrading their defence next off-season.

But that’s not necessarily the team’s thinking as it begins to look ahead to 2012.

Although the Panthers rank 23rd in the NFL in total defence this year — as opposed to fifth on offence — general manager Marty Hurney and coach Ron Rivera believe the defence is much improved over the last month.

The Panthers (5-9) have held three of their last four opponents to fewer than 20 points entering Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay (4-10).

Combine those numbers with the fact that the Panthers get middle linebacker Jon Beason and four other potential starters back from injured reserve and a complete overhaul of the defence may not be as big of a priority as some might think.

“I think the defence will make great strides next year,” Hurney said. “I think we still have a good core group intact. You always look to add some pieces, but I think it’s encouraging what we’ve seen the last four weeks.”

Hurney and Rivera attribute the improvement on defence during that span to keeping the same starting lineup intact for most of that time.

“We really haven’t had the continuity we’d have liked to have from the beginning,” Rivera said.

That’s an understatement.

The Panthers have been decimated by injuries on defence and the starting lineup has been a revolving door.

It started when they lost veteran defensive tackle Ron Edwards in training camp, forcing them to start the season with a pair of rookies — Sione Fua and Terrell McClain — in the middle.

Beason torn his left Achilles tendon in the season opener and outside linebacker Thomas Davis re-tore his left ACL the following week against Green Bay, leaving the team void of its two defensive leaders.

As the season progressed, the injuries kept mounting.

Linebackers Thomas Williams and Jason Phillips landed on injured reserve after being handed starting roles. Later, McClain and Fua were lost to season-ending injuries, continuing the season-long trend.

Despite all of that, the Panthers were able to limit the playoff-bound Texans to one touchdown in a 28-13 win last Sunday.

“I think just by getting some of those guys back from injuries next year and with the experience some of these (backup) players have gained this season, it will naturally help us down the road,” Hurney said.

Hurney said the Panthers will look to upgrade in all three phases — offence, defence and special teams — through the draft and free agency, but doesn’t necessarily view one as more pressing than the others.

So even though the offence has made magnificent strides in going from last in the league in 2010 to fifth this year behind Cam Newton, Hurney said he won’t rule out adding pieces to help his rookie quarterback.

“I think you always want to keep your strengths strong,” he said.

Defensively, linebacker is the biggest area of concern because Dan Connor and Jordan Senn, who started the season as backups but have played well in starting roles, are unrestricted free agents. There’s also the unsettled the future of Davis, who’s due an $8 million signing bonus in March — one he likely won’t get after tearing his ACL three times in three years.

Getting Beason back should be huge.

Beason said Tuesday he’s ahead of schedule in his rehab and “without question” plans to participate in the team’s first minicamp next spring.

“I’ll have a helmet on come April.”

He started running recently in the pool, a big step in the recovery process.

That’s terrific news for the Panthers.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection and the defence’s unquestioned emotional leader on the field, Beason led the Panthers in tackles for four straight seasons prior to suffering a season-ending injury in the season opener against the Cardinals.

The defence was going to be geared around Beason, although that changed.

“Do we need (to add) a few free agents? I don’t know, maybe,” Beason said. “But to tell you truth, I’ve been impressed with the way guys have filled in. Guys who weren’t even here in camp. I think we’re improving this year, guys are learning the defence and that’s going to carry over to next season. On top of that, we get a lot of guys back from injuries, so I think the future is bright.”

Notes: The Panthers didn’t have to release an injury report Tuesday but Rivera said cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (left hamstring) and defensive end Charles Johnson (back) were held out of practice Tuesday.

The Associated Press

The Carolina Panthers defensive unit continues to be, well, downright offensive as witnessed in Week 14. Carolina built a 23-7 halftime lead at home against NFC South rival Atlanta, only to watch the defense give up 24 unanswered points in the second half. And Olindo Mare shanked another big field goal. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2011 Carolina Panthers!

While the NFL post game shows cover the scoring plays, I look for the less visible but equally crucial plays that sustain drives, spring the big plays, or change momentum. Here is my analysis, as a Panthers fan, of these key plays, both good (“The Gamers”) and bad (“The Lamers”) that took place during Carolina’s Week 14 epic collapse against the Atlanta Falcons.

1st Quarter

5:35, Sean McDermott, Def. Coord. – Lamer. Score tied 0-0, ATL ball on CAR 5. The Panthers secondary failed to cover Roddy White repeatedly on Atlanta’s second possession. The Falcons faced two third downs on this 10 play, 62 yard drive and both third downs were converted on Roddy White receptions. White ended the drive with a five yard touchdown after Captain Munnerlyn got confused and left White completely uncovered in the corner of the end zone.After the play Munnerlyn and Darius Butler were pointing at one another, obviously confused by the broken coverage. In all, Roddy White had 4 receptions for 33 yards and TD on the drive and McDermott’s defensive unit did nothing to slow him down.

2:58, Cam Newton, QB – Gamer. Panthers trail 0-7, CAR ball on ATL 38. On 3rd-and-3 Cam Newton lined up in shotgun. Newton rolled right by design and finding nothing he reversed his field to the left, juking LB Mike Peterson at the line of scrimmage. Cam stretched for a four yard gain, extending a drive that ended in a touchdown.

:07, Rob Chudzinski, Off. Coord – Gamer. Panthers trail 0-7, CAR ball on ATL 6. Near the end zone Newton again lined up in shotgun. He faked a QB draw and as soon as he took his first step toward the line of scrimmage, the linebackers and safety came forward. This allowed Jeremy Shockey to slip behind the coverage as Cam Newton executed a nifty jump pass for a touchdown. The play was a beautiful design by Chudzinski, catching the Falcons spying into the backfield anticipating another QB draw.

2nd Quarter

8:46, Jason Baker, P – Gamer. Score tied 7-7, CAR punts from CAR 49. Jason Baker drops a punt that bounces at the Atlanta six yard line and is downed by Captain Munnerlyn at the four, pinning the Falcons against their own end zone. Two plays later the Panthers defense put two points on the board with a safety thanks to Baker’s perfect punt..

7:18, Antwan Applewhite, DE – Gamer. Score tied 7-7, ATL ball on ATL 8. On 3rd-and-6 Matt Ryan lined up in shotgun and dropped back into the end zone. Antwan Applewhite beat right guard Sam Baker, pushing Baker backward and slipping the block, sacking Ryan in the end zone for a safety.

7:02 Byron Bell, G & Brandon LaFell, WR – Gamers. Panthers lead 9-7, CAR ball on CAR 26. On 2nd-and-10 DeAngelo Williams lined up behind Cam Newton and took a handoff off right tackle. Guard Byron Bell pulled and sealed linebacker Mike Peterson. LaFell was lined up in the right slot and made a perfect block on safety Thomas DeCoud, ultimately putting DeCoud on the turf as Williams hit the hole. Center Ryan Kalil also pulled and led the way for Williams through the hole created by Bell and LaFell. The blocking was so good that Kalil had nobody to block and simply kept running until DeAngelo outran him on his way to an untouched 74-yard touchdown.

3:15 Byron Bell, G & Ryan Kalil, C – Gamers. Panthers lead 16-7, CAR ball on ATL 44. On 3rd-and-14 Cam Newton lined up in shotgun with Jonathan Stewart flanking him. Newton faked a screen pass to Stewart to the left, then threw a short screen to Greg Olsen in the right flat. Guard Byron Bell and center Ryan Kalil pulled with Olsen and set up a wall of blockers. Bell made a great block on a linebacker just past the line of scrimmage as Olsen cut back against James Sanders making him miss. Kalil sprinted all the way down field, making a key block on Thomas DeCoud at the 12 yard line (32 yards from the line of scrimmage) as Olsen scored on a 44-yard touchdown, pushing the Panthers lead to 23-7.

3rd Quarter

12:26 and 11:14 Darius Butler, CB – Gamer. Panthers lead 23-7, ATL ball on CAR 12. Twice on this drive Darius Butler was lined up in man coverage against Julio Jones. On a 1st-and-10 from the Panthers 30 Jones ran a streak down left sideline. Matt Ryan slightly under threw the pass and Butler broke it up in the end zone. Three plays later the Falcons ran the same play, this time from the 12. Once again, Butler broke up the pass to Jones in the end zone and the Falcons ultimately settled for a field goal, cutting the Panthers lead to 23-10.

9:34, Cam Newton, QB – Lamer. Panthers lead 23-10, CAR ball on CAR 40. On 1st-and-10 Cam Newton dropped back to pass. The pocket collapsed and DT Corey Peters had Newton in his grasp and was pulling him down for a sack when Cam inexplicably attempted a left handed flip pass to Jonathan Stewart. The decision was terrible and the pass was intercepted by Mike Peterson.

9:03, James Anderson, LB – Lamer. Panthers lead 23-10, ATL ball on CAR 31. Matt Ryan lined up under center with RB Jacquizz Rodgers behind him. Ryan play faked to Rodgers and rolled to his right. Rodgers ran a wheel route down the left sideline. James Anderson ended up in man coverage on Rodgers as the Falcons RB blew past Anderson for a touchdown reception in the back corner of the end zone, cutting Carolina’s lead to 23-17.

4th Quarter

7:28, Travelle Wharton, G – Gamer. Panthers trail 23-24, CAR ball on CAR 47. After the Falcons took their first lead of the game, the Panthers needed to sustain a drive. On 2nd-and-10 Cam Newton lined up in shotgun with DeAngelo Williams to his left. Newton ran a read option play, faked the handoff to Williams, and kept the ball on a run left. Wharton chipped a defensive lineman then pancaked LB Sean Witherspoon, opening a huge hole for Newton to run for a 12-yard gain and a first down.

5:16, Olindo Mare, K – Lamer. Panthers trail 23-24, CAR ball on ATL 18. Kicker Olindo Mare lined up for a go-ahead 36-yard field goal late in the game. The ball was lined up on the right hash. The snap and hold were good, but Mare shanked the kick, pulling it wide left. The “Boos” rained down from nearly every Panthers fan at Bank of America Stadium, and rightfully so.This play more than any other contributed to the Panthers loss.

4:28, Darius Butler, CB & Sherrod Martin, S – Lamers. Panthers trail 23-24, ATL ball on ATL 25. Two plays after the devastating Olindo Mare missed field goal, Matt Ryan lined up under center with Julio Jones split wide left. Darius Butler had Jones in man coverage and Jones ran a deep post, getting a step on Butler. Safety Sherrod Martin took a terrible angle as he broke on the pass, failing to even get a hand on Jones after the catch while Butler missed on a diving tackle. Jones took the ball 75-yards to the house, upping the Falcons lead to 31-23 and sealing the Panthers loss.

4:08, Steve Smith, WR – Gamer. Panthers trail 23-31, CAR ball on CAR 20. Facing 3rd-and-10 and needing a touchdown and 2-point conversion, Cam Newton threw a bomb down the left sideline to Steve Smith. Smith did what he does better than nearly any other player in the league as he out-leaped CB Dunta Robinson and tip-toed along the left sideline, coming down with a huge 48-yard gain, breathing life into a possible Panthers game-tying score. But the drive ultimately stalled after four consecutive incompletions, and the Panthers found a way to lose yet again.

Andrew Sweat is a North Carolina resident and loyal Panthers fan. More from this author:

Gamers and Lamers – Week 13 vs. Tampa Bay

Gamers and Lamers – Week 12 vs. Indianapolis

Gamers and Lamers – Week 11 vs. Detroit

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As a huge Carolina Panthers fan, I have spent most of 2011 trying to find the silver lining. When you lose the vast majority of your games it is sometimes difficult to find something good to say. There are only so many moral victories that a person can stomach. Still, I have managed to feel good about this version of the Carolina Panthers. Cam Newton(notes) has certainly made them more exciting, and the team has been in pretty much every game except one until the end. On Sunday, November 27, they defeated the Indianapolis Colts on the road for a huge victory. Despite the needed victory, the positive signs of growth were more difficult to see than in some losses this year. The Panthers spent the majority of the game trying to give it away.

In the end, the Panthers won and walked away with the confidence boost that comes with winning. Here are the positives that I noted throughout the game:

Brandon LaFell(notes) is developing nicely

LaFell was thought to be a strong candidate to start opposite Steve Smith when the season first started, but the Panthers signed former Charger Legedu Naanee(notes) because he knew the offense well. Naanee has been the starter, but many are questioning why. LaFell has shown he is ready, and this week was another example of that. He did not have huge numbers, but he filled the roles needed. He took the heat off of Smith, and blocked like a tight end. He also caught every single pass that came into his zip code. LaFell is going to be a good one in time.

The turnover margin

The Panthers won the turnover margin thanks to two late interceptions. Granted those interceptions should never have been necessary in the first place, but the Panthers did what they had to do to win. A horrible pass interference play by Captain Munnerlyn(notes) and a terrible missed tackle by Sherrod Martin(notes) on Reggie Wayne(notes) marred an otherwise decent day in the secondary.

Continued special teams improvements

Carolina certainly looked good stopping the Colts all day on special teams and they actually had another good day returning the ball. Kealoha Pilares(notes) once again broke a long one, even though he got punked by the Colt’s kicker. Armanti Edwards(notes) had a huge punt return even though it was returned due to penalty. Still, it is a far cry from the horrible special teams play earlier in the 2011 season.

Cam Newton’s calm day

Newton could have had gaudier stats on this day, and yet he simply glided through and did what was needed to win. On a day when the running game was more than sufficient, he was able to be in total control and kept away from turnovers. Cam Newton scored one rushing touchdown and completed a great percentage of his passes, but the big time fireworks were not really needed. He was okay with that and it led to a win. Sometimes the Panthers have to embrace the run, and this win was a perfect example.

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Read More: James Anderson (LB – CAR), Jeremy Shockey (TE – CAR), Dan Connor (LB – CAR), Jason Phillips (LB – CAR), Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers had to add Cam Newton to last week’s injury report at the last minute, but they seem to be getting healthier as their game against the Detroit Lions gets closer. Two defensive starters returned to practice on Thursday after being listed as out on Wednesday’s injury report.

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn missed Wednesday’s practice with a quad injury, but he was a full participant on Thursday. James Anderson, the Panthers’ starting sam linebacker, also returned to full practice on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with an ankle injury.

Two other Carolina starters were still bothered by their injuries, however. Jeremy Shockey missed a second straight day of practice due to a rib injury while linebacker Dan Connor was limited again with a shoulder injury. Jason Phillips, a back-up linebacker, also missed another practice with a calf injury.

The full injury report is embedded below.

Friday’s injury report should be more revealing as far as Shockey’s status is concerned.