The Carolina Panthers take to the field for the first time since Super Bowl XXXVIII on Saturday night, as they visit the Washington Redskins in their first preseason matchup of the year. Carolina was a surprise entry in the sport's biggest game a season ago, making its first-ever Super Bowl appearance just two years after finishing 1-15. The Panthers lost the game to the Patriots, 32-29. Jon Fox's club will take on a Redskins team fresh off a 20-17 victory over Denver in the Hall of Fame Game this past Monday. The contest marked the return of head coach Joe Gibbs, who had previously guided the franchise from 1981-92, winning three Super Bowls in the process. Quarterback Jake Delhomme is expected to play sparingly in the Panthers' first preseason tuneup, though it is unclear whether he will be succeeded by Rodney Peete or Chris Weinke as the signal-caller. Peete and Weinke, who both have starting experience as Panthers, are vying for the No. 2 quarterback job. Roderick Rutherford and Rob Adamson, the two other quarterbacks currently on the Carolina roster, could play as well. Running back Stephen Davis will play against his former team, as will DeShaun Foster, but neither is likely to play into the second half. Fox will want to get a long look at an offensive line that will feature four new starters. On defense, the game will mark the debut of first-round draft pick and cornerback Chris Gamble, while the return of linebacker Mark Fields, who missed all of last season with Hodgkin's disease, is another prominent storyline. The Redskins figure to be a bit ahead of Carolina in terms of development after opening the season with Denver earlier in the week. The most significant item to come out of that defeat was the loss of right tackle Jon Jansen for the season with a ruptured achilles. Kenyatta Jones is expected to work in place of Jansen, and the team also added veteran lineman Ray Brown this week in the interest of depth. Quarterbacks Mark Brunell (4-8, 18 yards against Denver) and Patrick Ramsey (3-8, 12 yards) could see more time in the Redskins' second game, as could running back Clinton Portis (4 carries, 11 yards). Linebacker Mike Barrow (knee) and defensive end Phillip Daniels (abdominal muscle strain) aren't expected to play, but the defense will be otherwise healthy. Rookie safety Sean Taylor, who tallied two interceptions and a touchdown in his debut Monday night, will attempt to build on that electrifying performance. The preseason series between the Panthers and Redskins is tied at one game apiece, with Carolina evening the score with a 20-0 victory last season. The Panthers also earned a 20-17 win over Washington during the 2003 regular season, which marked the club's first triumph in seven attempts against the Redskins.
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