Ben

Hartsock

Hartsock is the only mild surprise for the Panthers as a healthy scratch. They have already placed Jon Beason, Thomas Davis and Ron Edwards on injured reserve. The rest of the Panthers’ inactives: QB Jimmy Clausen, WR Kealoha Pilares, OT Lee Ziemba, DT Frank Kearse, LB Jason Phillips and S Charles Godfrey. Jordan Pugh will start in place of Godfrey (concussion).

Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski likes to use two-tight end sets, but may be forced to do that less with Jeremy Shockey gone. The No. 2 spot will be filled by Gary Barnidge, blocker Ben Hartsock and H-back Mike Tolbert.

Hartsock is a mediocre blocker and a liability in the passing game. But to hear Rivera tell it, he’s a key piece. “You look at his catches, they’re all on the underneath routes – the quick ins, the quick outs. People miss the value of that when you have one tight end that can stretch the field and the other one that can attack the middle.” Greg Olsen is going to push for 90-plus percent of the snaps once again this year.

Hartsock turns 33 before the season and has all of seven receptions since the 2007 campaign. He is a blocking tight end who doesn’t dominate at blocking.

Dallas Clark is out with a concussion. With Peyton Manning behind center, anybody is a potential touchdown target. Hartsock has an opportunity here.

No major surprises. Reggie Wayne and safety Mike Doss are active, as expected.

34-year-old Hartsock is purely a blocking tight end. The Pats are moving on from UDFA TEs Justin Jones and Asa Watson, who were both waived on Sunday.

Even if Hartsock doesn’t start every game, he’ll get plenty of snaps. That leaves Bo Scaife and Ben Troupe to take snaps along with Hartsock as pass-catching tight ends. We still wouldn’t expect much production from Hartsock.

Scaife, who was hurt in Week 17, won’t need surgery but can’t go against contact for six weeks. He finished the season third on the Titans in catches. The Titans now need Ben Troupe and Ben Hartsock to step up. Scaife will be a restricted free agent in 2008 and could get a second-round tender.