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SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Hunter Cantwell had to be patient at Louisville. The fourth-string quarterback is willing to wait his turn with the Panthers, too.

Cantwell said Wednesday he "just wants to stay in Carolina," even if that means a spot on the practice squad.

"I feel like I've got a chance to be good here," Cantwell said.

Cantwell's pro debut in Monday's exhibition against the Giants put him in the middle of a bizarre finish. He was 5-for-5 for 63 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jason Cherry with 57 seconds left. Cantwell then connected with Andrew Davie on the tying 2-point conversion.

But after getting the ball back in the closing seconds, Cantwell was hit from the blind side, lost the ball, and Tommie Hill returned it 18 yards for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.

"Basically you have third- and fourth-string guys in there and to be able to execute, and I think that's the big thing the coaches wanted to see," he said.

Still, it was a good start for Cantwell, who played behind Brian Brohm at Louisville until his senior year, which ended in disappointment. Cantwell had as many interceptions (16) as touchdowns and the Cardinals went 5-7.

"I think he has taken to our system pretty well and made some good throws under pressure the other night," coach John Fox said.

Cantwell is hoping to produce enough to stick around for the season.

"I've been very surprised with the amount of attention I've been given and how many reps I've been given," Cantwell said. "Usually the fourth guy doesn't sniff the field, but I've been able to get a lot of reps in almost every drill that we've run."

INJURIES: Receiver Steve Smith did his first 11-on-11 work, without contact, in the morningas he recovers from a bruised right shoulder that kept him out of Monday's game. Later in the workout, Smith took off his pads and was examined by the trainer.

"He tweaked his shoulder a little bit. It's not a setback or anything like that," Fox said. "It hurt a little bit and we rested him."

l Running back Mike Goodson couldn't finish the morning practice after getting kicked in the leg. Fox said Goodson, who rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown Monday while fumbling twice, suffered only a bruise.

l Running back Jonathan Stewart missed another practice with pain in his left Achilles' tendon. His most strenuous action was playing catch with Jake Delhomme between drills.

"The arm still works," Fox yelled to Stewart.

l Linebackers Thomas Davis (knee) and Landon Johnson (groin), safety Nate Salley (knee) and guard C.J. Davis (ankle) were also out.

DT SHUFFLE: There was a shuffle at defensive tackle, Carolina's biggest area of concern.

Nick Hayden continued to work some with the starters, but he shared snaps with undrafted rookie Marlon Favorite. Hayden, who struggled defending the run against the Giants, also had some work with the second team.

EXTRA POINTS: Count G Keydrick Vincent among the folks who have bought a ticket for the $250 million Powerball jackpot. "I don't need it, but I'll take it," Vincent said. ... The final workout at Wofford College is today at 3:10 p.m.