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The Carolina Panthers already know they'll have a new quarterback Sunday against Tampa Bay, but they're hoping they don't have to play without their leading rusher and second-leading receiver, too.
Running back DeAngelo Williams was held out of practice Thursday for the second straight day because of an ankle injury, and receiver Muhsin Muhammad also didn't practice after participating on a limited basis Wednesday.
Muhammad said he expects to play, but Williams wasn't available.
Coach John Fox said the team's medical staff felt like it was best for Williams to get medical treatment Thursday, but that he's hopeful Williams can play Sunday and perhaps practice before then.
"There's always tomorrow," said Fox. "I'd say it's fair to say with our leading rusher, I'd be hopeful he'd be able to go Sunday, for sure. Anything before that I'd be happy with, too."
Williams is the NFL's fourth-leading rusher with 1,022 yards and has a team-high seven touchdowns. Muhammad ranks second behind Steve Smith on the team with 34 catches for 339 yards.
Also sitting out practice Thursday were quarterback Jake Delhomme (broken finger), receiver Dwayne Jarrett (ankle), defensive end Charles Johnson (pectoral), defensive tackle Tank Tyler (knee), and cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (concussion).
There appears to be a chance all of them will miss Sunday's game.
Matt Moore is set to start for Delhomme at quarterback, though Fox has yet to make it official.
Jarrett's absence likely means Charly Martin will become the No. 3 receiver behind Smith and Muhammad, assuming Muhammad starts.
Munnerlyn said it looks like he won't play, creating two openings.
C.J. Wilson is expected to take over for Munnerlyn as an outside cornerback when the Panthers use extra defensive backs in passing situations.
Munnerlyn also returns punts, ranking ninth in the NFL with an average of 10.6 yards per return. Receiver Kenneth Moore said he and cornerback Chris Gamble took turns fielding punts in practice, but that he isn't sure which of them will fill the role in the game.
Gamble hasn't returned punts this season, and Moore has two returns for 4 yards.
Fox said he probably won't officially announce his starting quarterback until the Panthers "trot out of the tunnel on Sunday." He doesn't want to tip off the Buccaneers, although there really is no mystery remaining about the situation.
Fox said Moore is ready.
"I know if Matt gets the opportunity, he'll make the best of it and do just fine," said Fox.
Fullback Brad Hoover said Moore isn't as aggressive as Delhomme in the huddle and has more of a mellow demeanor.
"He's very laid back, very casual, sort of a happy-go-lucky guy," said Hoover. "He works hard and comes prepared. We just want him to be extremely prepared this Sunday."
If Hoover is right about the Bucs' pass-rushing plans, Moore will need to be calm under pressure.
"We know coming into this game, we're going to have a new quarterback out there, they're going to pressure ... us," said Hoover. That's something we haven't dealt with, especially lately. They're going to try to rattle us, so running the ball is going to be very important."
TONIGHT'S BIG GAME: Kenneth Moore, a former Butler High star, is optimistic about the Bulldogs' playoff game tonight against arch-rival Independence, but isn't making any predictions.
"I don't want to put a score on it, but my Bulldogs have got to fight hard and not just be OK with the first one we had (a win last month over the Patriots), but finish them off this time," said Moore.
"Coach (Tommy) Knotts (of Independence) has boldly said we won't beat them again, so I'm sure we'll be a little fired up about that and it'll be a good game."
NOTES: Kicker Rhys Lloyd's wife, Tina Miller, gave birth to the couple's first child Tuesday, an 8-pound, 14-ounce boy named Aston James.
