Reeder's Take

   This seemed pretty corny back then and now, 25 years later, it seems even cornier. But if you’re interested in a trip down memory lane, you can check out the 1985 Chicago Bears doing the Super Bowl shuffle. And no, Panthers coach Ron Rivera wasn’t a part of this video.  Maybe that’s a good thing.

   Click here.

   As expected, CB Chris Gamble is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, which likely means Darius Butler will get his first start as a Panther. Coach Ron Rivera initially said Monday that he expected Gamble to be ready for Sunday but when he reported to practice Wednesday had taken a step back.

   “I’m ready if my number is called,” Butler said.

   Also, RT Jeff Otah was limited in practice but is listed and probable and will start. Byron Bell will continue to play a few series in his place, coach Ron Rivera said.

   FS Charles Godfrey practiced all week and is expected to play.

CHICAGO BEARS:

RECRORD: 1-2 overall, 0-1 NFC North

COACH: Lovie Smith, 8th season (64-51 regular season, 3-3 playoffs).

SERIES HISTORY: 6th regular-season meeting. Bears lead series, 3-2. The Bears dominated the Panthers 23-6 last October in DE Julius Peppers’ return to Bank of America Stadium. Bears RB Matt Forte ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers in the first quarter alone and finished with 22 carries for a career-high 166 yards. Peppers interecepted Jimmy Clausen on that play.
Last week: The Bears dropped their second straight game 27-17 to Green Bay at Soldier Field. Chicago struggled on both sides of the ball, allowing Packers QB Aaron Rodgers to throw for 297 yards and three touchdowns while managing an anemic 13 yards rushing on 12 carries. Forte was held to 2 yards on 9 carries. 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Matt Forte. Despite his struggles on the ground last week, he remains the bell cow for the Bears. Over his last five games Forte has averaged an NFL-best 145.2 yards per game from scrimmage. Of his 726 yards, 403 of those have come as a receiver coming out of the backfield.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH: LB Brian Urlacher. Yes, he’s still playing at a high level. Urlacher is third on the team in tackles with 24, including three for a loss. He has two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Peppers has just three tackles in three games for the Bears, but 11 quarterback pressures, two sacks and two fumble recoveries.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER TO WATCH:  KR/PR Devin Hester. One of the game’s most exciting players, Hester has had a quiet season for the Bears in terms of returns, averaging just 20.3 yards per kickoff and 10.3 yards per punt return. But we all know what he’s capable of. Hester’s 10 punt returns for touchdowns are tied with Eric Metcalf for the most in NFL history.

BY THE NUMBERS: The Bears are 15-4 since 2004 when their defense scores a touchdown.

REEDER’S TAKE:  The Bears are coming off back-to-back losses to the Packers and Saints, so they’ll be plenty fired up for this game. They can’t afford to lose anymore ground to the Detroit and Green Bay, both 3-0. Look for Jay Cutler to throw downfield and test Carolina’s secondary as Hester is averaging 19.9 yards per catch while fellow WR Johnny Knox is averaging 21 yards per reception. Also, look for the Bears veteran defense to blitz the heck out of rookie Cam Newton and try to confuse him with a lot of hidden coverages.

   Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis is undergoing surgery today to repair a third torn ACL in the same right knee.

   Davis hasn’t conducted an interview yet on his future, but said on Twitter: “”And for those of you who have asked, NO way am I going to retire.”

   The Panthers have a built-in injury clause as part of his $36.5 million contract. He’s due an $8 million signing bonus next year and it’s hard to imagine the Panthers paying him that kind of money given the fact that he’ll have missed 38 of the last 40 games by the time that decision rolls around.

   It’s possible Davis could agree to a reduced contract to stay in Carolina or be released.

    Carolina’s inactives for Sunday include SS Charles Godfrey, QB Jimmy Clausen, TE Ben Hartsock, DT Frank Kearse, LB Jason Phillips, T Lee Ziemba and WR Kealoha Pilares.

    That means Jordan Pugh starts at strong safety.

   The Panthers activated a fourth defensive tackle this week in Ron Fields.

   The Jaguars will be without DEs Aaron Kampman and Austen Lane. Other inactives include DB Rod Isaac, G Jason Spitz, OT Cameron Bradford, WR Kassim Osgood, DL C.J. Mosely.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Coach: Jack Del Rio 9th season (66-64), two playoff births.

Series History: 5th regular-season meeting. Jaguars lead series, 3-1. The last meeting came in 2007 when the Jaguars destroyed the Panthers 37-6 in Jacksonville. The Panthers and Jaguars made their franchise debuts together in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio in the 2005 preseason with the Panthers winning.

Last week: The Jaguars lost 32-3 to the Jets, prompting Del Rio to bench QB Luke McCown and start rookie Blaine Gabbert, the 10th pick in the NFL draft, on Sunday against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

Offensive player to watch: RB Maurice Jones-Drew. It seems like he’s been around a lot longer, but this is just his sixth season. Coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, Jones-Drew is regarded as one of the NFL’s top backs. He’s rushed for 5,433 yards and 55 TDs and has 238 receptions for 2,118 yards and seven TDs and recorded 19 career 100-yard rushing games along with nine games with 200-plus all-purpose yards. The Jaguars love to run play-action fakes to set up their passing game.

Defensive player to watch: CB Rashean Mathis. Mathis is a top-notch corner now in his ninth season and will likely be the guy matched up on Steve Smith for most of the game. He has 10 tackles this season and one interception. He has good cover skills, but often relies on help over the top. Overall, they don’t have a lot of big-name players on defense, but they’re very sound.

Special teams player to watch:  K Josh Scobee. The Jaguars have a consistent and reliable kicker in Scobee along with a veteran punter in the ageless Matt Turk.

My take: Carolina fans are already chalking this one up in the win category, but the Jaguars have a decent team despite getting blown out by the Jets. The problem for Jacksonville has been offense, where they’ve only scored one touchdown in two games. That’s one of the reasons Del Rio made the switch to Gabbert.

   Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton will actually face a quarterback who has less experience than him on Sunday when the Panthers host the Jaguars.

   Rookie Blaine Gabbert, the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL draft, reportedly will start for the Jaguars.

   This should be an interesting game and expectations in Carolina are that the Panthers will finally come away with their first win this Sunday under Ron Rivera.

   The Panthers have signed DT Frank Kearse off the Miami Dolphins practice squad and released OG Reggie Wells, who was signed last week but did not play. Wells had started 91 games during his NFL career, but the Panthers felt they could cut him with Jeff Otah likely back this week.
   The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Kearse is a rookie from Alabama A&M.

   The question now is what will become of Thomas Davis in Carolina after he tore the ACL in his right knee for a third time in less than 23 months.
   The Panthers gave him a five-year, $35.5 million contract extension in July, but only $8 million of that money was guaranteed — a $7 million signing bonus and $1 million base salary in 2011 — which protected the Panthers in case of just such an injury. Davis is due an $8 million signing bonus on the third day of the league year in 2012, but if the Panthers cut him before then they won’t have to pay any of the remaining $27.5 million left on the contract.
   Davis wrote on Twitter Monday night that he “loves the game too much to walk away,” so every indication is he’ll try to make it back yet again from rehab.
   It’s hard to imagine the Panthers giving him the $8 million bonus next year after three torn ACLs and given the fact Davis will have missed 38 of the team’s 40 games after this season is in the books. It’s possible Davis could agree to restructure the deal (providing the Panthers still want him back) and take less money at a later date. Or, he could wait to see if the Panthers cut him and try his luck with another team.
   Regardless of what happens, Davis has yet another long road of rehab ahead of him.
   “If there’s one guy who can make it back from three torn ACLs it’s Thomas,” said teammate Jordan Gross.
   You have to hope it works for Davis.
   He’s a dynamic player when healthy and a terrific guy off the field who does a lot for the community.

   Panthers inactives: QB Jimmy Clausen, OT Jeff Otah, CB Josh Thomas, LB Jason Williams, G Reggie Wells, WR Kealoha Pilares and DT Ron Fields. Undrafted rookie Byron Bell will start in place of Otah. The Panthers are likely to give him help in blocking Packers LB Clay Matthews.

    FB Jerome Felton is active.

   Packers inactives: RB Alex Green, CB Davon House, CB Tramon Williams, LB Frank Zombo, T Derek Sherrod, DE Mike Neal and LB Vic So’oto. RDE Jarius Wynn will start for Neal, while Sam Shields will start in place of Williams.