Panthers’ Davis Is Out for the Season

The Carolina Panthers put three-time Pro Bowl running back Stephen Davis on season-ending injured reserve Saturday because of a swollen right knee.

Davis, who ran for a career-high 1,444 yards in 2003 for the Panthers, developed soreness and swelling earlier this week in his surgically repaired right knee. He had microfracture surgery on the knee last year but returned this summer to regain his starting position.

Davis, 31, ran for a team-record 12 touchdowns this season, but averaged 3.1 yards a carry and his playing time has dwindled in recent weeks with 20 carries over the last month. DeShaun Foster started last week in place of Davis.

Davis has 549 yards in 180 carries this year.

General Manager Marty Hurney called the move “disappointing” and said the decision wasn’t based on medical tests.

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Green Bay Coach Mike Sherman said he would consider downgrading tight end Bubba Franks and linebacker Robert Thomas to doubtful on today’s injury report.

“It does not look promising,” Sherman said about the possibility of Franks and Thomas playing against Baltimore on Monday night.

Franks has neck and back soreness. Thomas has a strained quadriceps.

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St. Louis Coach Mike Martz, who stepped down in October because of a heart condition, has been cleared by doctors to return Jan. 1 but probably won’t be back with the team.

The Rams are expected to reach a settlement with the Martz, 54, who has one year remaining on a three-year contract and is due $3.25 million. Martz has clashed with the front office this season and probably would seek a head coaching job elsewhere in the NFL.

Interim Coach Joe Vitt is expected to coach the Rams in their last regular-season game, at Dallas on Jan. 1.