Jason

Phillips

Phillips is the only Ravens player not putting in a full practice this week. He’s a core special teamer.

Someone in the Carolina front office must’ve had a high grade on Phillips coming out of TCU, because he’s hardly played. A two-down thumper type like new Panthers starting MLB Dan Connor, Phillips will focus on special teams.

Williams’ injury is the more serious of the two, though the Panthers have yet to provide a timetable for his return. Seriously lacking in depth at linebacker, the Panthers will likely be forced to make a move this week.

He’s done for the day. Thomas Williams (neck) is already out, and starter Omar Gaither was just shaken up with an apparent lower leg injury in the fourth quarter. Depth is becoming a major concern at linebacker.

Phillips lasted one week as the fill-in starter on the weak side before suffering the injury in mid-October. The former Ravens fifth-rounder is a restricted free agent in 2012.

Phillips was scheduled for restricted free agency, but Carolina didn’t want to pay the nearly $1.3 million it would have required to tender Phillips at the “original pick” level. Instead, he’ll return on a minimum base salary. Phillips, 26, appeared in four games last year, making four tackles on defense before landing on I.R. with a calf injury. He’ll compete for a roster spot.

Undersized Jordan Senn (5'11/224) will start in Gaither’s place. MLB Don Connor (shoulder) is a game-time call and the extremely favorable matchup for Indy’s run game gets even better with this news. It’s a mystery which back is going to lead the way for Indy at this time, but if reports can shed some light on the situation heading into game-time, owners should be ready to move. The Panthers are a sieve.

One of the Ravens’ core special teamers, Phillips was inactive for Week 1’s win over the Steelers with a concussion. A fifth-round pick in 2009, Phillips tallied four tackles in nine games a season ago. He could be re-signed later this season.

Phillips, who was claimed off waivers from the Ravens a month ago, will be making his first career NFL start. He replaces Jason Williams, who has been benched due to lack of production. The Panthers’ defense will continue to be one to attack for fantasy purposes.

The journeyman former fifth-round pick appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers last season, playing 103 snaps on defense. Phillips is injury prone, but could carve out a role in an Eagles defense that’s going to be on the field a lot in 2013 because of Chip Kelly’s quick-strike offense.