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For the first time since he fell awkwardly and clutched his left knee in a training-camp workout nearly six weeks ago, receiver and return man Ryne Robinson practiced on a limited basis with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday.

"I feel great," Robinson said. "I was comfortable doing a lot of the stuff I used to do. We'll see day by day how it goes."

Always secretive with injuries, coach John Fox wouldn't say if Robinson would be able to play in Sunday's game against Chicago.

"He looked better," Fox said. "That's why he graduated from week-to-week to day-to-day."

Robinson's absence and the season-ending knee injury to backup Jason Carter left the Panthers scrambling to find a replacement kickoff and punt returner. In Sunday's win over San Diego, rookie Jonathan Stewart returned four kickoffs for an average of only 21 yards. Mark Jones, signed last week, returned two punts for 16 yards.

"Right now I'm feeling it out and seeing how I feel day to day," Robinson said. "As I tell them I'm getting healthier they let me gear it up a little more. It's on my feel now. We'll see."

Robinson could also give the Panthers another receiving option as they prepare to play their second straight game without the suspended Steve Smith.

HARD ON THE KNEES: One sore-kneed offensive lineman, right tackle Jeff Otah, was able to practice Wednesday. The other, left guard Travelle Wharton, rode a stationary bike and wore a giant brace. Otah injured his left knee and Wharton his right in San Diego Sunday, forcing Geoff Hangartner and Jeremy Bridges to fill in for stretches. Otah seemed confident he'll play against the Bears, while Wharton's status is uncertain. Despite the injuries, the offensive line allowed only one sack and Carolina rushed for 142 yards on Sunday.

SERIOUS FOUL PLAY: Panthers kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd, the son of a former English professional soccer player, was asked what he'll do if he ends up as the last man to stop dynamic Bears return man Devin Hester Sunday. "Slide tackle, cleats up," Lloyd joked in his British accent.

49ERS: Alex Smith's season is over with another shoulder injury. The high-priced quarterback's short career with the San Francisco 49ers is probably finished as well. The 49ers put Smith on injured reserve with a broken bone in his right shoulder. The top pick in the 2005 draft probably will require more surgery on the joint that limited him to seven games last season.

COLTS: Less than 24 hours after Indianapolis Colts starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson was arrested on a drug possession charge early Wednesday, the team said it would waive him.Colts president Bill Polian said the team would waive Johnson Thursday. He said the Colts consider every violation of a team rule or NFL policy on a case-by-case basis."In this particular case, Ed was well aware that his past history required him to be in complete compliance with club rules," Polian said.

PATRIOTS: Tom Brady visited his New England Patriots teammates Wednesday, three days after suffering a season-ending knee injury. Brady was shown walking out of the stadium with a limp but no crutches on a video aired on WHDH-TV.

BUCS: An ankle sprain put Jeff Garcia's name on the injury report. A shaky performance in Tampa Bay's season opener cost the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback his starting job this week against Atlanta. Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said Brian Griese will start against the Falcons on Sunday.

SAINTS: Marques Colston, the New Orleans Saints' top receiver during the past two seasons, had surgery on his left thumb and will miss four to six weeks. Colston said he tore the ligament Sunday when he reached to make a catch while taking a helmet-first hit to his hands from Ronde Barber.

BRONCOS: Former Broncos linebacker Al Wilson, sidelined with a neck injury since the end of the 2006 season, retired Wednesday. The five-time Pro Bowler played his entire career with Denver, which drafted him out of Tennessee with the 31st overall pick in 1999.

TITANS: Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth did not practice Wednesday as he recovers from a mild concussion suffered in the opening win over Jacksonville.

OBITUARY: Sherrill Headrick, a former Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, died Wednesday. He was 71. The Kansas City Star reported on its Web site that Headrick died of cancer.