news-record.com

It was an odd explanation frIt was an odd explanation from Fox since the Panthers hadn't practiced in a week: Rookie running back Jonathan Stewart sat out Wednesday because of soreness in his heel from the "accumulation of practice, games, all of the above."

Stewart has had trouble with his feet, undergoing toe surgery that kept him out of offseason workouts. The first-round pick has been sharing time with DeAngelo Williams in Carolina's backfield, rushing for 362 yards and five touchdowns.

Williams seemed confident his teammate would play against the Raiders.

"Jonathan will play Sunday, yes," Williams said.

Reserve defensive tackle Darwin Walker missed practice as he continues to recover from a sore neck following his car accident on Oct. 25.

NO SMITH-HALL REUNION: One of the storylines for Carolina's visit to Oakland was squashed when the Raiders waived cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

In Week 3 last season, Hall, then playing for Atlanta, lost his cool while covering Panthers receiver Steve Smith. Hall was called for 63 yards worth of penalties -- including two personal fouls.

Hall signed a $70 million contract with the Raiders, but was in the middle of a disappointing season when the Raiders cut ties.

"I obviously hope for his family's sake and his sake that whatever happens he comes out and he's able to bounce back and be the good player that he is," Smith said on conference call with Oakland Raiders media.

MOOSE & OBAMA: Receiver Muhsin Muhammad came to work wearing a Barack Obama T-shirt, with the message "Yes We Can" on the back.

But overall, Obama becoming the first black to be elected president didn't produce much chatter in the locker room. Players kept political talk had been at a minimum.

"I'm probably one of the very few in this locker room," Muhammad said. "It's not a real political atmosphere. ... It's not a heated, divided locker room because of politics."

EXTRA POINTS: Panthers backup QB Josh McCown acknowledged maligned Oakland owner Al Davis was always involved in football decisions when he played there last season. "I got to sit with him and talk with him in a couple different meetings," McCown said. "Regardless of things that are said now and lately, I still have a lot of respect and it was an honor to sit with him because of what he's done for the business we choose to be in. That was a cool part of it." ... Each player had a note at their locker reminding them they'll need cleats with long spikes Sunday at Oakland. The note warned that it was a "very soft, soggy field."

LIONS: Detroit tried to be coy about how much Daunte Culpepper practiced and whether their new quarterback will play just days after signing.

Coach Rod Marinelli and Culpepper declined to reveal how the first-string snaps he took.

But wide receiver Shaun McDonald provided at least a hint. "It was pretty even," McDonald said when asked how the repetitions were divided. "Daunte might've had a little bit more."

GIANTS: Super Bowl star David Tyree was told by the New York Giants that there will be no catches this year.

Tyree, who made "The Catch" in New York's Super Bowl victory over the Patriots in February, was placed on injured reserve by the Giants on Wednesday. The move was made after Tyree ran out of time trying to get back on the field following offseason knee surgery and then a hamstring injury.

SEAHAWKS: The team expects quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to return against first-place Arizona on Nov. 16. He will miss his fifth consecutive game Sunday at Miami while he slowly gets back into playing shape this week.

STEELERS: Ben Roethlisberger rested his sore right shoulder, although his latest tests showed no additional damage.

COWBOYS: Tony Romo was back under center at practice. Dallas went 1-2 without Romo, scoring no more than 14 points with Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger running the offense.

JAGUARS: coach Jack Del Rio sent linebacker Mike Peterson home, two days after Del Rio questioned his team's chemistry. Peterson, who leads the Jaguars with 85 tackles, is in the final year of his contract and felt slighted when he wasn't offered an extension.