Local Sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --

It didn't take Jeremy Bridges long to earn back his starting spot on the Carolina Panthers' offensive line.

In his first practice after his two-game suspension ended for his arrest on an assault charge, Bridges worked Wednesday with the first team at right guard ahead of rookie Ryan Kalil.

"I ran with the ones all day today, so I think I'm sure I'm going to start on Sunday," Bridges said.

Bridges was projected to be Carolina's starter at right guard until he was arrested the day before training camp began and charged with pointing a gun at a woman outside a strip club. Bridges has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge and faces an Oct. 2 trial.

Bridges said he stayed in shape while he was barred from the practice facility during the two-week suspension.

"I felt great," Bridges said after practice. "I've been in the game five years and I know how to keep myself in shape. I kind of pushed myself extra hard today to break my body back in."

Bridges' return means Kalil will go back to second-team center. Kalil, who never played guard in college, gave up two sacks in Sunday's 34-21 loss to Houston.

"That was kind of his job always and we had a temporary solution," Kalil said. "For me to come in, it was a perfect opportunity for me to get some playing time early and get some good experience."

Kalil acknowledged he was learning on the fly at guard.

"Obviously, center is a position that I've always felt comfortable at," Kalil said. "But guard is something I've been getting work at. There are a lot of things I've done well and

obviously there are some things not so well that I need to get better at."

And for Bridges, he was thrilled to be back with his team after his two-week exile.

"Excuse my French, but it was hell," Bridges said. "It really hurt. I need to be out there with my guys."

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SALLEY OUT: To make room on the roster for Bridges, the Panthers placed safety Nate Salley on injured reserve.

Salley, who came into training camp penciled in as a starter, injured his right knee in the first week of training camp. He attempted to come back later in camp, but was sidelined again. He had not practiced for several weeks and sat out the first two regular season games.

With Salley's injury and the retirement of Mike Minter, the Panthers' top three safeties were not with the team last season.

Deke Cooper, who has started with Chris Harris, was held out of practice Wednesday with a groin injury he suffered late last week. But Cooper, who played through the injury against Houston, said he'll play Sunday against Atlanta as he tries to hold off Marquand Manuel for his starting job.

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BEASON'S AGENT: Linebacker Jon Beason's agent, Michael Huyghue, will be giving up the day-to-day work representing his clients after becoming the commissioner of the new United Football League this week.

In an e-mail Wednesday, Huyghue said other people in his agency will take over his duties representing several players, including Beason and suspended Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones.

Huyghue and the Panthers reached a stalemate in the Beason contract negotiations that led to Beason's eight-day holdout during training camp.

Huyghue will run the new outdoor professional league slated to begin in August 2008.

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QUICK HITS: DE Stanley McClover (thigh) and LB Adam Seward (calf) missed practice Wednesday. ... DE Mike Rucker, a Nebraska product, walked around the locker room Wednesday wearing a Southern California cap. Rucker lost a bet to WR Keary Colbert of USC after the Trojans routed the Cornhuskers 49-31 on Saturday. "I told him

if they won I'd wear his raggedy hat," Rucker said. ... The Panthers made a practice squad transaction, releasing OL Kevin Sampson and signing DB Tanard Davis.