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Linebacker Na'il Diggs has already missed one game due to injury this season and is questionable for Sunday. (PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CHARLOTTE -- The similarities between the injury Na'il Diggs suffered Sept. 20 at Atlanta and the one he incurred Nov. 19 against Miami begin and end with the fact that both were to his ribs.

"This is nowhere near what I had in the beginning of the year as far as pain and how much I was affected," Diggs said. "Painful, yes, but nowhere near the magnitude of the second game of the season."

The injury was enough to sideline him Wednesday and Thursday. He returned to practice Friday afternoon, but was limited, leaving his status questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

Diggs said the injury was closer to his sternum than the one he incurred in Week 2.

"I was covering the tight end. He ran a little slant, and I broke it up. I was dragging him down, and his body, his tailbone just landed straight on my chest," Diggs said. "I was on my back, pulling him down, and boom, right on it. Pretty immediate pain. I kind of knew what it was right away."

Dan Connor took over at strong-side linebacker when Diggs was hurt last week. If Connor starts Sunday, it would be the first game-opening assignment of his two-year career.

INJURY NOTES: Defensive end Charles Johnson was the only Panther to sit out Friday's practice; he was sidelined all week with a pectoral-muscle injury and is listed as doubtful.

Fullback Brad Hoover, running back Jonathan Stewart and defensive tackle Damione Lewis all practiced and are questionable, while safety Charles Godfrey and defensive end Julius Peppers are listed as probable.

Hoover hasn't played since Nov. 1 because of a sprained ankle, while Godfrey last played on Oct. 25 because of a similar injury. Peppers has been limited mainly to pass-rush duty the last two games because of a hand injury and hasn't started since the Nov. 8 loss at New Orleans.

"(Peppers) is further along this week than last," head coach John Fox said.

HOOVER'S RETURN would be welcomed by the Panthers, who have been forced to use Tony Fiammetta, Tyrell Sutton, Mackenzy Bernadeau and their tight ends at fullback during the past three games. Only Fiammetta is listed as a fullback on the roster; most of the creative staffing at the position came Nov. 8 against the Saints, when he sat out due to a concussion.

But Fiammetta has played the last two games, which have been alternately smooth and rough -- inevitable in a position for which experience is the only instructor.

"He's come a long way," Hoover said. "I tell him, 'You've got to continue to learn, whether it's good or bad, every time you step out there.' With every experience he's getting to play, he's growing and hopefully learning from it. Every time you've got to evaluate yourself and take something away from it, and I think for the most part he's doing that every single week."

Against Miami, the blocking scheme lacked both Hoover and left tackle Jordan Gross, and with a rookie fullback and a first-time starter at left guard in Mackenzy Bernadeau, the Panthers had more issues in pass protection -- allowing four sacks -- than run blocking. That's typical for learning how to block in the NFL, Hoover said.

"The pass blocking was more difficult (to learn), but the run blocking wasn't a piece of cake, either," Hoover said.

PLAYING AFTER A LAYOFF: When Carolina and Miami met last Thursday, the disadvantage of a short preparation week were shared. This week, the Panthers had three more days to rest and recuperate heading into Sunday's game with the New York Jets.

On one hand, the respite came at an opportune time. On the other, any time would have been opportune, given the Panthers' struggles with injuries that date back to the first moments of training camp when defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu tore an Achilles tendon.

"We did well after our bye the first time (a 20-17 win over Washington), and we're hopeful for the same thing," quarterback Jake Delhomme said.