The Panthers filled his roster spot with Kenneth Moore, a receiver who played prep football at Butler High School in Charlotte.

Coach John Fox said he held out optimism that Robinson would recover but he never did.

"He was making some progress but just not getting over the hump," Fox said Wednesday. "I think sometimes time is your best healer and he just needs a little more time. We'll make sure we get him rehabbed so he can be ready for next year."

Moore played at Wake Forest and was drafted in the fifth round.

--The Panthers didn't spend much time savoring their impressive 34-0 shutout over the Kansas City Chiefs -- not with such a big game looming this Sunday against division rival Tampa Bay.

The Panthers (4-1) travel to their favorite road venue Raymond James Stadium, where they have won five straight, to face the Bucs (3-2) with first place in the NFC South on the line. A win gives Carolina a two-game cushion over the defending division champs while a loss would pull Tampa Bay even at 4-2 and give the Bucs the early edge in the all-important head-to-head tiebreaker.

That's how big this game is.

Meanwhile, Atlanta (3-2) and New Orleans (2-3) remain very much in the hunt.

"It's really not a new concept," coach John Fox said Monday of making sure his team turns its attention ahead. "... I think our main focus is to be the best we can be on any given Sunday, and as soon as this one's behind us, that will be our focus for next week."

Quarterback Jake Delhomme believes that has been one of the strengths of this year's team.

"One thing that I'm really proud of this team is that it's a one-week deal," Delhomme said after Sunday's game. "You don't look ahead. That's what I enjoy most about this team. There's a focus on the task at hand, and that's what you have to do."

--The Panthers have eclipsed 400 yards offense in back-to-back weeks, the first time that has happened in the franchise's 14-year history.

"For the most part, we did some good things offensively," quarterback Jake Delhomme said after Sunday's game. "Building a 21-0 lead at half was huge. Third down was nice. We ran the ball effectively. We did some good things in the passing game. Defense gave us the ball great. We had a little lapse there early in the third but we responded back well. It was nice. A win is a win. We'll take it and it's time to move on to Tampa."

BY THE NUMBERS: 7-1 - Jake Delhomme's all-time record against Tampa Bay.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think we've played good enough defense to be our record right now. What we do moving forward is hard to predict. I like what our group has done; I like the way they've gone about their business. We've got a rookie (Charles Godfrey) starting at safety. He's been very good from day one actually. For the most part, (defensive end) Tyler Brayton has been a good addition. We don't have all that many changes. We have some new guys we're calling upon and some guys that are a year better in the National Football League -- the Thomas Davises and the Jon Beasons. There are some young guys there sprinkled in with some veterans that right now have good chemistry." --Panthers coach John Fox on his defense.