It's only Week 3 of the NFL season, but here are  five players the Panthers really miss:

1. Stanley McClover. The second-year defensive end was so promising during training camp that I dubbed him a breakout player. However, McClover hasn't played a down because of a groin injury he suffered in the preseason finale. He returned to practice last Wednesday, but then must have suffered a setback because he was held out Thursday and Friday and did not play against Houston. The trickle down affect here is that Mike Rucker is having to take more snaps. Let's hope that doesn't wear him down. The Panthers wanted to limit Rucker's reps early in the season, but with rookie Charles Johnson still not ready to play and Otis Grigsby the only legit backup defensive end on the roster, Rucker is having to play more than the team wanted.

2. Keyshawn Johnson. I went on record this spring saying it was a mistake to cut Johnson after just one season. I thought he could have been a valuable tutor for Dwayne Jarrett. I think more than ever the Panthers miss him. One look at Sunday's game and the Panthers don't have a legit No. 2 receiver. Drew Carter is a fine No. 3 option, but he hasn't shown he can be a consistent starter. Keary Colbert? Hey, I've given up trying to figure that one out. Keary is a super nice person, but to me he's the wide receiver version of Jeff Lewis. Somehow, the team loves him, but I just don't see it.

   Anyway, Johnson would have provided some realibility and might have helped in the learning process of Jarrett, who has been slow to learn the offense. By the way, the biggest misconception out there is that a hamstring injury held Jarrett back in camp. Gimme a break. Folks, he was out about a week which is less time than Jon Beason missed (and Jarrett attended all of the meetings). Yet, Beason is starting. The real reason Jarrett isn't starting can be traced back to what receivers coach Richard Williamson told me a few weeks ago -- that he needs to get more aggressive at the line and in his route running. He told me Jarrett, because of his size, needs to be a bull, not a Tinkerbell. Once he gets that, he will be the starter.

   I mentioned early in the spring not to pencil in Jarrett as a starter because rookie receivers often have trouble adapting to the NFL. Jarrett has proven to be no different. Nonetheless, I feel like he can make an impact if he decides he wants to do so. Really it's up to him.

3.  Nate Salley. His training camp injury  hurt. Defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac was high on Salley coming into the season, but a knee injury has Salley on the shelf. Salley still has not returned to practice and after landing wrong during practice in Spartanburg, S.C. It's been about four weeks. At the time, the Panthers told us the injury was no big deal. Obviously, it's been a little bigger deal than that.

4. Mike Minter. No, Minter's knees didn't have much left, but he rarely was caught out of position. Carolina free safety Deke Cooper just seems a step slow at this point. Also, I think the Panthers are really missing Minter's leadership on the football field. He was a great locker room presence as well.

5. Terrence Melton. The Panthers had big plans for him on special teams, but a torn ACL ended his season in training camp. Melton will be back next season, but he can't help the Panthers in '07. Carolina is trying to rebuild the core of its special teams and Melton was one of the guys they had in mind.