"I think as a player, it gives me the opportunity to use what I have," said Davis, a two-year starter on the strong side. "I'm a faster guy, and I want to get out there and show it off. It's way different for me. It's a lot of learning I've got to do, based on what I played last year. But I'm up for it. I'm behind the ball and I'm having an opportunity to make more plays and I'm excited about that. I'm really excited about the possibilities this year."

If Davis performs this season anything like he did in practice Saturday morning, he could be in for a big season.

He was all over the field.

Early in practice, he blew through the line and leveled rookie RB Jonathan Stewart in the backfield, knocking him completely off his feet for a 2-yard loss. Later, Davis got to Stewart again, this time making a nice open-field tackle on a pass in the flat.

A former first-round draft pick, Davis has not quite lived up to some lofty expectations. Some blame that on the team shifting him back and forth between safety and linebacker during his rookie training camp in 2005.

But Davis believes this is his best position and the plays he made on Stewart are a foreshadowing of things to come.

"Oh definitely," he said.

The Panthers began experimenting with Davis at weak-side linebacker in OTAs and decided to make the move permanent when they came to training camp.

--WR Muhsin Muhammad is working first team over D.J. Hackett. Muhammad has the advantage because he's more familiar with Jake Delhomme. They connected for 16 TDs in 2004, the year before Muhammad bolted to Chicago.

--DT Damione Lewis is working with the first team next to Maake Kemoeatu. Lewis stepped into the starting role after the Panthers traded Kris Jenkins to the Jets.

--RG Toniu Fonoti is working with the first team at right guard ahead of Keydrick Vincent.

--LB Na'il Diggs is moving to the strong side after the team's decision to move Thomas Davis to the weak side.

--LB Landon Johnson was the team's highest-paid free agent pickup this offseason, yet he continues to work with the second team.

--LB Brandon Jamison, a special teams player for the Panthers in recent years, was cut on the eve of training camp.

--RB Alex Haynes was released.

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Toniu Fonoti vs. Keydrick Vincent and Milford Brown for starting RG -- It appears the Panthers will give Fonoti a chance to win the job. He opened camp as the first-team right guard over two other free agent pickups, Vincent and Brown. Fonoti basically ate himself out of the league but is now back hoping to rejuvenate his career with the Panthers. Said coach John Fox of the decision to work Fonoti with the first team: "You've got to start somewhere on the depth chart. It's not always where you start the race; it's where you finish it. So you have to have a starting group just to work from a beginning standpoint. These guys are learning. If he's the guy, he'll be there. But we still have a lot of work, a lot of practice to do."

OTHER BATTLE FRONTS: Na'il Diggs vs. Landon Johnson for starting SLB -- Diggs started the last two seasons for the Panthers and doesn't seem ready to give up that job easily. Even though the Panthers gave Johnson, a former Bengal, a three-year $10 million contract this offseason, Diggs is holding him off for the starting job. It won't be easy because teams tend to want to get the guys they pay big money to on the field. Diggs had best not suffer another training-camp injury.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: WR Jason Carter -- We keep harping on this kid, but the unheralded receiver just keeps making plays that make you turn your head and go, "Wow!" Although he attended Texas A&M as a quarterback, he's developed into a fine receiver. He spent last season on the practice squad. On Saturday, he made a great leaping catch along the left sideline from Brett Basanez. When asked Saturday about the team's receiving corps, Muhsin Muhammad brought up Carter, saying, "Jason Carter had an awesome camp, OTAs, and coming out today he's having a great start right now. There's going to be some surprises here and there, like, 'Wow, who is this guy and where did he come from?'"

ROOKIE REPORT: First-round picks Jonathan Stewart and Jeff Otah both signed contracts to avoid holdouts. Both are only going to practice once a day in the early going while recovering from past injuries. Otah is the starting right tackle and Stewart will split time at running back with DeAngelo Williams. ... Charles Godfrey, a third-round pick from Iowa, continues to work with the first team at free safety. ... Dan Connor, a third-round pick from Penn State, is working third-team middle linebacker. ... Fifth-round pick Gary Barnidge could provide some downfield speed at tight end for the Panthers. ... Nick Hayden hopes to land a spot as a backup defensive tackle.

INJURY REPORT: RB Nick Goings, a versatile special teams player, was carted off the field Saturday night with a sprained ankle. Goings' status moving forward is not known

QB Jake Delhomme only threw in one of Saturday's practices.

OT Jeff Otah and RB Jonathan Stewart, the team's two first-round picks, are practicing only once a day as well.

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