After missing two weeks of practice to rest a sore ankle, Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers returned Tuesday and is expected to be ready to play in Sunday's opener against New Orleans.
Coach John Fox wasn't saying that, of course. No sense giving an opponent what he likes to call "a competitive advantage" earlier than necessary.
"We're not doing any injury updates or practice updates until tomorrow," he said.
Peppers' teammates, though, said he appears to be fine. He'll replace Al Wallace in Sunday's starting lineup, which is fine with Wallace.
"I was just a placeholder for awhile," Wallace said, laughing. "We need him back. You have the best defensive player in the league; you expect nothing less than for him to get out there.
"I might be his biggest fan, watching him do what he's capable of doing."
