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CHARLOTTE (AP) — Sherrod Martin entered training camp as a candidate to snag the No. 3 cornerback job with the Carolina Panthers.

Just over three weeks later, the rookie isn't even playing that position anymore.

The combination of falling behind others at cornerback and a slew of injuries at safety has led to the second-round pick moving to the position he played last season at Troy.

"He's very athletic, so it was a natural for him to move there," starting strong safety Chris Harris said Wednesday. "He's still got to learn the defense and learn the ins and outs. But as of now, I think he's picking it up pretty well."

The Panthers expected Martin to contend for the nickel back job when they made him the 59th overall pick. The job was open after Ken Lucas was released in the offseason and Richard Marshall was promoted to starter.

But Martin was slow to pick up the defense and quickly fell behind seventh-round pick Captain Munnerlyn of South Carolina, who has bolted up the depth chart. Martin has also been unable to leapfrog veteran Dante Wesley in the fight for playing time behind starters Marshall and Chris Gamble.

Martin has produced few NFL highlights so far, certainly nothing like the NCAA record-tying three interceptions in one quarter he had last season against Alcorn State.

"Once you know where to go, you get there and play fast," Martin said. "It's about knowing the defense real well so I can play fast and not do a lot of thinking."

Harris warned that it might take time for Martin to adjust to the NFL. Days into training camp he joked that it's a long way from the Sun Belt Conference. Like Martin, Harris played in the lower-tier league at Louisiana-Monroe.

"It's just the level of competition," Harris said. "It's a lot better than you're used to. You've got to get prepared for that."

This week, Martin's job description changed. After starting free safety Charles Godfrey broke his right hand in Saturday's preseason loss to Miami and with backup Nate Salley (knee) still sidelined, Martin moved to safety in practice.

Quinton Teal is the candidate to start in Godfrey's place, while Martin is working in a group that includes veteran Kevin Kaesviharn, who was signed on Monday.

"I play everywhere in the secondary — nickel, corner, safety and even learning some dime," Martin said. "To me, it wasn't unexpected."

Changing positions is nothing new for the 6-foot-1, 198-pound Martin. He played at strong safety as a freshman at Troy and free safety as a sophomore. After missing the 2006 season following surgery on both shoulders, Martin played nickel back in 2007. He was back at free safety last season.

Martin had success everywhere he played. He finished with 292 tackles, the most in school history for a defensive back. He ranked second in the nation in 2007 with six forced fumbles.

Godfrey's convinced once he gets the defense down he'll have success in Carolina.

"Wherever you go on the field, it's about rising to the occasion on the field," he said.