Comments from Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox following the team's practice.
On injuries: Did not participate: Richard Marshall - ankle, Muhsin Muhammad - ankle, Geoff Schwartz - groin, Steve Smith - arm, Jonathan Stewart - Achilles, Tyrell Sutton - ankle, and DeAngelo Williams - ankle. Limited participation: Matt Moore - rib.
On if the Panthers have placed wide receiver Steve Smith on injured reserve: No.
On if the Panthers will place Smith on injured reserve: Not necessarily.
On if any Panthers were named alternates for the Pro Bowl: We had three of them, two on offense - Ryan Kalil and Steve Smith, and one on defense - Jon Beason. All three are second alternates.
On if there is any irony in linebacker Jon Beason being named NFC Defensive Player of the Week the day after not being chosen for the Pro Bowl: Like the Pro Bowl day when all of that is released, there are guys that are very happy and there are also a lot of guys that are disappointed. You can debate all kinds of different things about it. But I'm sure that put a smile on his face, so that was a good thing.
On if he is disappointed that Beason did not make the Pro Bowl: I like to see our players have success. I know that on the field your team success usually helps that. That's been my experience. But any time one of our players is disappointed I'm disappointed for them.
On defensive end Julius Peppers being selected to the Pro Bowl: He's had a bunch of them. His statistics speak for themselves. I think he's had a pretty good career thus far. That's a goal, I think, of every guy going in, and he's well deserving.
On running back DeAngelo Williams earning his first Pro Bowl trip: I thought DeAngelo had that kind of season a year ago. I think sometimes it takes a couple years to get in and a couple years to get out, but that's just my own opinion. But I think he was well deserving and I'm happy for him.
On how he expects the Saints to play after having clinched home-field advantage but having lost two consecutive games: It's hard to predict. I know what kind of game we're going to be trying to play. I can't worry about them as much as I worry about us.
On a report that he will be given the opportunity to return and coach the Panthers next season: I've got a year (left) on my contract. I don't get into that right now. My focus is to get through the season, and I've got an agent who deals with that.
On if it would be difficult to coach a season when he's in the final year of his contract: I think I just answered that.
