The Panthers regularly keep four receivers active - Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad, (returner) Mark Jones and either Jarrett or Hackett. Hackett missed three games before the bye week with a knee injury, but he returned last week to catch one ball for 13 yards. That play led to a touchdown. He didn't do much else in the game.

PLAYER NOTES

--C Geoff Hangartner will likely start this week in place of injured Ryan Kalil.

--WR D.J. Hackett remains the team's No. 3 receiver.

GAME PLAN: Look for Carolina's offense to bounce back strong this week after a clunker last week in Oakland. They should be able to move the ball both through the air and on the ground. The Panthers will look to DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to run the football quite a bit against the league's 31st-ranked run defense. But don't rule out plenty of long passes either as the Lions are 29th in pass defense. Regardless, the Panthers should put up plenty of points at home against a team allowing 30.8 points per game.

Defensively, the Panthers plan to blitz Daunte Culpepper, who is only in his second week with the Lions.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams vs. Lions front seven -- Williams is coming off back-to-back 100-yard games, running for a career-high 140 yards and a touchdown last week against Oakland. He's done very well at home this season. In his last three games at Bank of America Stadium, Williams has run for 297 yards and three touchdowns. He should put up some good numbers against a Lions defense that enters the game ranked 31s in run defense (161.2 yards per game).

Panthers QB Jake Delhomme vs. Lions secondary -- Delhomme is coming off his worst day as a pro, posting a 13.2 passer rating against the Raiders. He should be raring to go. He's played much better at home this season where he's completed 68 of 101 passes for 973 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception for a quarterback rating of 120.6. In each of his last four home games, Delhomme has posted a quarterback rating of 110 or better.

INJURY IMPACT:

--RB Jonathan Stewart practiced full for the second straight day and is expected to play Sunday against the Lions. He should put up decent numbers if he plays.

--C Ryan Kalil (ankle) likely will miss Sunday's game after sitting out practice again Thursday.

--C Geoff Hangartner will likely start this week in place of injured Ryan Kalil.

--WR D.J. Hackett remains the team's No. 3 receiver.

--DT Darwin Walker has been limited this week with neck soreness related to a car accident last month. It's still unclear if he makes it back this week.