CHARLOTTE, N.C.Carolina Panthers running back Stephen Davis and fullback Brad Hoover returned to practice Thursday, while backup rusher DeShaun Foster missed his second day of practice with a knee sprain.
Both Davis and Hoover remained questionable on the injury report and coach John Fox was noncommittal about his starting backfield's status for Sunday's game at Detroit.
Fox did not elaborate on the extent of the injury to Foster, who also was questionable for the Lions game. Foster's 373 total yards from scrimmage rank second on the team only to wide receiver Steve Smith.
In other injury news, cornerback Chris Gamble, who tried to play last week on a bad ankle but was benched at halftime, returned to the practice field Thursday and probably will play this week. He too is listed as questionable. Running back Rod Smart is doubtful for Sunday's game.
Davis has not missed a game since returning from microfracture knee surgery last year. He has rushed for seven touchdowns, third-most in the NFL, but is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry.
Players insisted on Thursday, the day the 2-3 team returned to practice in preparation for a Monday night game at Indianapolis, they wouldn't and couldn't allow the absence of their ailing head coach to be a distraction.
"You have to prepare just like it's normal," linebacker Brandon Chillar said. "No one else cares that we don't have a head coach, that's how the league is.
Team president John Shaw said earlier this week that the coach would be hospitalized for four to 12 days. He's expected to miss at least two games, and could be out as many as six.
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