Übers Forum » not be too many changes from Friday, Anderson said.Wigan

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Drayton Florence could go from playing football with his son in the backyard to NFL starter this week. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Florence, who re-signed with Carolina on Thursday, could be pressed into a starting role this Sunday when the Panthers host Eli Manning and the New York Giants due to injuries at the cornerback position. Florence, a 10-year NFL veteran who has played in 143 career games and started 99, attended training camp with the Panthers and worked primarily with the starters during the preseason before being released in final roster cuts. Florence said he spent the past two weeks at his home in Jacksonville, Fla., playing football with kids, taking them to swim lessons and getting on his wifes nerves. "You have to be ready for everything," Florence said. "It was getting a little frustrating sitting on the couch, so Im glad they thought enough of me to bring me back." Rivera said injuries to cornerbacks Josh Thomas (concussion) and Josh Norman (thigh bruise) prompted the Panthers to re-sign Florence. Although both Thomas and Norman returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday, there is still plenty of concern over their status for Sunday. Two other Carolina cornerbacks -- DJ Moore (knee) and James Dockery (hand) -- did not practice Thursday. "The concern is not only if everyone is going to be cleared, but if theyre going to be 100 per cent," Rivera said. "As we look at it, a concussion is scary thing and a cornerback with a deep thigh bruise is a scary thing. We had to take a lot of things into account and we think (signing Florence) was a prudent move. ... We were down to two healthy cornerbacks." Rivera said he has plenty of confidence in Florence, saying he fit right in at practice Thursday. "It was like he never left," Rivera said. "He did a nice job understanding the concepts that were using for this game. Its interesting, but veteran guys like that do make the transition easily." Florence has played for San Diego, Jacksonville, Buffalo and Detroit and has 444 career tackles and 18 interceptions. Florence said hes happy to be back in Carolina, despite the way things abruptly and unexpectedly ended three weeks ago. He called it a humbling experience. "Anytime you get fired from your job its tough, but it would be a lot tougher to come back and be a disappointment," Florence said. Rivera also seems to have settled on a starting strong safety. He ruled out Quintin Mikell for the game Sunday and said he expects undrafted rookie Robert Lester from Alabama will get his first NFL start against Manning. Lester was promoted from the teams practice squad to the 53-man roster earlier this week. "We think Robert Lester is a young man thats got an opportunity," Rivera said. "Hes the next best available for us." Mike Mitchell will start at free safety for Carolina and Captain Munnerlyn will be the other starting cornerback. NOTES: To make room on the roster for Florence, the Panthers waived backup centre Brian Folkerts. ... Rivera said it is likely rookie RB Kenjon Barner (foot) will be held out until after the bye week. Willie Brown Jersey .C. - Brent Sutter scored 1:32 into extra time as the Charlotte Checkers came from behind to defeat the visiting Abbotsford Heat 5-4 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. Ted Hendricks Jersey . He left in the 4th inning of Saturdays game against the Tigers after experiencing tightness. Reyes and the team still hope that he will be ready for Opening Day in Tampa Bay in one week. http://www.authenticraiderspro.com/Jim-plunkett-raiders-jersey/ . -- Without Carey Price, the run for a first Stanley Cup in 21 years got steeper and longer for the Montreal Canadiens. Lester Hayes Jersey . -- D. J. Williams finally has his packing strategy down. Lyle Alzado Jersey .The Toronto Raptors guard, who will represent the Eastern Conference at the All-Star Game in New Orleans on Sunday, says he doesnt complain in the face of adversity "because I know this little girl is just happy for anything.Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson is urging his bottom-of-the-table team to produce more of the same when they face Wigan at the DW Stadium on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 3 HD. The Giants ended a five-match losing run with an impressive 11-0 victory over leaders Warrington last Friday but it was not enough to move them off the foot of the Super League table.Anderson is hoping they can secure lift-off while at the same time preventing the Warriors taking over top spot. Obviously there are a lot of smiles around from what we achieved last week, said Anderson.I thought we put together a complete 80-minute performance and that was the most pleasing thing for us because what we have talked about and wanted to practise are coming to fruition.But we knew straight after the game that we couldnt rest on that performance. We did a lot of things well but there are things that we can do better as well. John Bateman and Dan Sarginson look ahead to Fridays fixture against the Giants The challenge of Super League and the regular rounds is that this week we have something different and it is a whole different kettle of fish in regards to playing Wigan away.Every game is an opportunity to win and Wigan have been very good at home in the last few years so we have got a fair challenge on our hands.The stage we are at now is that we have to play every game like it is our last and enjoy it that way. Huddersfield upset leaders Warrington last weekend Huddersfields long-awaited win came as no surprise to Wigan coach Shaun Wane, who has identified former Man of Steel Danny Brough as the main threat to his side.Not many teams can keep Warrington to nil, said Wane. Theyll be a real threat to us.I like the way they play. Theyre getting back to how Huddersfield play now. We wont underestimate them.Danny Brough has been outstanding this last few weeks. Hes the man and the one who is pushing all of the buttons. Wales international Ben Flower could return for Wigan Wigans injury worries continue to ease, with prop Ben Flower and centre Anthony Gellling set to return against the Giants after being out for a month.ddddddddddddGelling is back earlier than expected, much to Wanes relief.It looked like a 12-week lay-off at one point so were glad hes back, he said. Super League top 10 Our top 10 moments from the Super League over the last 25 years on Sky Sports Gells has been the best centre in the competition bar none, hes training the house down and hes ready to go.Even the week before the Wakefield game when we were struggling, he was putting his hand up to play, even though he wasnt ready.But I like people like that. He just wants to play and weve missed him. Highlights of Wigans 18-13 victory at Huddersfield on February 12 Anderson recalls on-loan winger Gene Ormsby after he was unable to play against his parent club but resists the temptation to bring back forwards Eorl Crabtree and Larne Patrick, who missed that game through injury and illness.Larne has overcome his illness and Eorl has done some running but we have to reward performance so there might not be too many changes from Friday, Anderson said.Wigan, who bounced back from their 62-0 mauling at Wakefield to beat Castleford last Friday, are aiming to complete the double over the Giants following their 18-13 win at the John Smiths Stadium in February. As Sky Sports turns 25, we look at some of the best and funniest moments from Boots N All Wigan Warriors: John Bateman, Greg Burke, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Dom Crosby, Ben Flower, Oliver Gildart, Anthony Gelling, Nick Gregson, Jack Higginson, Willie Isa, Lee Mossop, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins.Huddersfield Giants: Ryan Brierley, Danny Brough, Jake Connor, Leroy Cudjoe, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Craig Huby, Josh Johnson, Michael Lawrence, Kruise Leeming, Jermaine McGillvary, Nathan Mason, Aaron Murphy, Gene Ormsby, Sam Rapira, Oliver Roberts, Ukuma Taai, Joe Wardle, Kyle Wood.Watch Wigan v Huddersfield live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Thursday from 7.30pm. Catch the match for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass. ' ' '