Charles

Godfrey

Jonathan Nelson replaces Godfrey and Darvin Adams moves to the left slot in four-wide sets for Ajirotutu. Byers and Norwood are currently being used as organizational depth and rarely active on gameday. The Panthers will continue to move forward with the struggling Olindo Mare.

Godrey suffered the injury in the second quarter and did not re-enter in the third. He’s likely done for the afternoon. Jordan Pugh has come on as his replacement.

Strong safety is up for grabs between Mike Mitchell, D.J. Campbell, and UDFA Robert Lester, while both cornerback positions are wide open between as many as six competitors. Godfrey, 27, will attempt to provide a stabilizing in what projects as one of the league’s shakiest defensive back fours.

Godrey has yet to practice this week, so there’s a chance he will miss Blaine Gabbert’s first career start. Jordan Pugh, who has seen time in place of Godfrey on nickel downs, is the fill-in. Shadow corner Chris Gamble tweaked his ankle in Thursday’s practice, but it’s not believed to be serious enough to keep him out this week.

He joins Charles Johnson, DeAngelo Williams, Thomas Davis, James Anderson, and Ryan Kalil as recently extended Panthers. Godfrey, a 25-year-old former college cornerback, has picked off seven passes and forced six fumbles in 43 career starts. Voted a team captain on Friday, Godfrey’s role will expand this year, playing some corner in Carolina’s nickel package. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 76th-ranked safety of 85 last year, and was 77th in coverage. Perhaps the new Panthers coaching staff believes it can get more from Godfrey based on what they saw from him in camp.

Gamble was forced from Sunday’s game with the injury, but his early baseline tests must have been encouraging. In case he can’t go in Week 4, Darius Butler would likely get the start in his place at left cornerback. Rivera said he also expects SS Charles Godfrey (concussion) back at practice on Wednesday. Godfrey sat out in Week 3.

Haruki Nakamura isn’t in the mix after his disastrous 2012. Charles Godfrey will start at free safety. Mitchell is a run-stopping specialist. He started just eight games in four years with the Raiders. A 2012 seventh-rounder, Campbell played 252 snaps on defense as a rookie. On paper — and likely in practice — the Panthers have one of the league’s worst secondaries.

Two teammates in the locker room following Sunday’s loss to Buffalo said they believed Godfrey -- the leader and veteran of Carolina’s secondary -- would be lost for the season. Godfrey suffered the injury in the third quarter on a pass breakup of a would-be touchdown to Stevie Johnson. The Panthers are going to have to resume scrambling at safety, where they’ve already been mixing and matching Mike Mitchell and Quintin Mikell on the strong side.

Godfrey had to be carted off the field after injuring his Achilles on a pass breakup in the end-zone. He’s out for the remainder of the game and is now likely looking at an extended absence.

Godfrey tore the Achilles’ during Sunday’s Week 2 loss to the Bills. The injury costs the Panthers their most productive member of the secondary and its leader. They’ll now have to roll with some combination of D.J. Moore or Colin Jones next to Mike Mitchell. Quintin Mikell is nursing an ankle injury. Due $5 million in 2014 base salary, Godfrey will be a renegotiation candidate.