CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The right hand in question wasn't wrapped in a cast Monday. The hand's owner, Julius Peppers, wasn't talking, and Carolina teammate Everette Brown flinched when asked about it.
"No comments on that," Brown said. "I don't really know the situation, what's going on. I won't go in depth about it."
The four-time Pro Bowl defensive end's hand is a touchy subject in the secretive world of NFL injuries. Coach John Fox would only call it a "messed up hand." After Peppers played only on passing downs in a win over Atlanta on Nov. 15, teammate Jon Beason said Peppers' hand was broken.
Fox wouldn't confirm it, and Peppers didn't appear on the injury report last week. But in Thursday's loss to Miami, Peppers was wearing a wrap, was again limited to mostly passing downs and did little against Dolphins left tackle Jake Long.
Collecting more than $1 million a game with the richest one-year contract in the NFL, Peppers has one tackle and two pressures combined in the last two games. He did force a fumble against Miami, but the Dolphins recovered.
The injury has also prevented him from moving around the line to confuse offenses. When he tried lining up on the left side when the Dolphins were facing third-and-1 in the fourth quarter, he used an awkward stance with his left hand down and was called for a neutral zone infraction. It gave the Dolphins a first down and they went on to kick a field goal for a 17-6 lead.
"It's pretty hard. I played in college with a broken thumb and had a cast on my whole hand," Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson said. "You can't really use the hand the way you want to."
When asked to clarify the injury after the Miami game, Fox replied: "I could, but I probably wouldn't." Whatever it is, season is surprised Peppers is playing at all. I couldn't do it," he said. "I've had some sprains and stuff like that and had to practice with a cast on. I don't know how he does it, to still go out there and be productive. I can imagine it's tough, but I can't relate."
