Carolina Panthers wide receiver David Gettis will remain on the physically unable to perform list through Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, but head coach Ron Rivera expects Gettis will join the 53-man roster next week.

Gettis has missed the past 22 games, since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in training camp last season.

He was placed on the PUP list at the start of the season for a hamstring injury.

Gettis spent the first six weeks of the season rehabbing his hamstring, after which the Panthers had a three-week period to determine whether to bring Gettis to the active roster or shut him down for the season. That period ends next week.

“We’re going to give him one more good week of work,” Rivera said. “As we get into next week we’ll have to make a decision, but he’s more than likely going to be up.”

The Panthers would have to release a player to activate Gettis. Wide receiver Armanti Edwards, who has seen limited action this season, could be vulnerable.

Notes

GODFREY FINED: Safety Charles Godfrey was fined $7,875 for a chop block last week against Dallas. Godfrey has been fined the same amount earlier this season for ripping the helmet off Giants tight end Martellus Bennett.

ANXIOUS AMINI: Rookie offensive guard Amini Silatolu has been penalized four times this season for false starts, and the coaching staff has been working with him on his patience and confidence during practice.

Silatolu’s four false starts are the most among the team’s offensive linemen, with three other linemen tied with one each. Silatolu has been penalized twice this season for holding, as well.

Against Dallas last Sunday, Silatolu had a holding penalty and a false start in a span on three second-quarter plays.

“The biggest thing is, he’s a young guy,” Rivera said. “We had the same thing last year with (second-year tackle) Byron Bell. It’s a young player getting anxious. He’s got to continue to work on his confidence. Part of it is being confident in what you do. So we just got to keep working him and get him to relax and settle in and make blocks and do the things he’s capable of.

“When he does those things well, the kid’s solid. But he has to understand that we have to mix up the huddle calls and the snap count because we’re playing against the guys who thrive on getting a jump.”

PLANNING FOR DEVIN: Devin Hester returning a Jason Baker punt 69 yards for a touchdown last season still stings Rivera.

The Panthers had a plan for the NFL’s most dangerous return man: get good hang time and punt it 35-40 yards. Instead, Baker nailed a 50-yard line drive to Hester, who holds the NFL career record with most combined special teams touchdowns with 18.

When asked if the Panthers would kick it to Hester on Sunday, Rivera said “carefully.”

“I agreed with the plan (last year) because the week before New Orleans shut him down and Green Bay shut him down,” Rivera said. “I said, ‘We’ll do the same thing.’ Well we didn’t. It’s like that old saying, ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, it’s my fault.’”

INJURY REPORT: Defensive end Antwan Applewhite is the only Panther ruled out for Sunday’s contest.

After coming back from a lacerated knee last week, Applewhite injured his thigh. He has not participated in practice all week.

Fellow defensive end Thomas Keiser is probable with two injured elbows. Starting defensive linemen Dwan Edwards (hand) and Charles Johnson (hip) are probable, as well as cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (leg) and tight end Ben Hartsock (calf).

ROSTER MOVES: The Panthers moved rookie defensive tackle Nate Chandler up from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Friday and cut defensive tackle Frank Kearse.

Chandler, an undrafted rookie out of UCLA, has been on Carolina’s practice squad all season. Second-year player Kearse played in three games this year with five tackles.

With Applewhite out and Keiser questionable, Rivera said he wanted to bring on a player who could play at end.

“Nate has the ability to play defensive end for us, and that’s what he’s been working at since Wednesday, knowing that this potentially could be the reason,” Rivera said. “The thing we do is our defensive ends are interchangeable, they can play tackle. Our tackles can’t play end. This is a young man who has that versatility.”

Kearse is the first player to be cut since the firing of general manager Marty Hurney, and the second to be cut all season. The other, cornerback Ron Parker, was waived, then re-signed two days later.