Carolina linebacker Dan Morgan’s uncertain future was one of many questions Monday for the Panthers after a difficult start to the season that included losing left tackle Travelle Wharton.

Morgan’s concussion in the second quarter Sunday was at least the fifth of his career and he did not return in the 20-6 loss. Without Morgan anchoring the middle of the defense, the Falcons rushed for 252 yards, the second most allowed by Carolina in its 12-year history. Morgan, the team’s No. 1 pick in 2001, suffered two concussions in 2003, two more in 2004 and at least one this year, missing seven games and parts of six others with concussions. He’s missed a total of 25 games in his career.

Wharton, a third-round pick in the 2004 draft who started the Panthers’ last 28 regular-season games, tore two ligaments in his left knee. That forced the Panthers to shuffle several players along the offensive line to try to contain John Abraham. None of them worked. Abraham had two sacks, knocked down a pass and forced two fumbles, having his way with anyone the Panthers put up against him.

“It’s surprising that we didn’t come out of the gates stronger,” said reserve tackle Todd Fordham, who was forced into duty in the second half.

Playing without injured All-Pro receiver Steve Smith, the Panthers managed just 65 yards rushing and Atlanta sacked Jake Delhomme four times.

Packers

Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris is hobbling, blaming a cheap shot by Packers tackle Mark Tausher.

Harris has an undisclosed right leg injury he says he suffered when Tauscher blocked him during Charles Tillman’s fourth-quarter interception in Chicago’s 26-0 victory Sunday.

Tauscher said Harris, who made the Pro Bowl last season, is mistaken – and he wasn’t even involved in the play.

“I’ve never been known to have a reputation for that,” he said Monday. “I don’t really welcome the fact that Tommie Harris or anyone else would call me dirty. I think he was off base.”

Center Scott Wells said he fell on the play as Brett Favre rolled out and that Harris went over him after being blocked down the line.

“It wasn’t intentional, go try to get somebody hurt, type of thing,” Wells said. “We were rolling out and all trying to reach our gaps. He was coming up the field and I kind of fell down. It wasn’t like I tried to cut him. At the same time, somebody hit him.”

Eagles

Cornerback Lito Sheppard, an All-Pro selection two years ago, most likely won’t play against the New York Giants on Sunday because of a sprained ankle. Sheppard injured his right ankle during the first series of the Eagles’ 24-10 victory at Houston. X-rays were negative and he had an MRI on Monday. Sheppard missed the final six games last year with a severe high-ankle sprain on his left leg.

“We’re going to take it week to week, but this week isn’t looking good,” coach Andy Reid said Monday. “It’s not a high-ankle sprain. It’s on the inside of his ankle and it’s fairly significant.”

Rod Hood, who started six games last season, replaced Sheppard. Reid indicated the Eagles probably will sign another cornerback this week.

Browns

Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius could miss significant time with a rib injury.

Jurevicius, signed as a free agent in March, left the field Sunday in pain in the first quarter after making a 20-yard reception on a fourth-down play that was nullified by penalty. Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Jurevicius was undergoing an MRI on Monday and the team was awaiting results. Crennel said initial X-rays on Jurevicius were “OK.”

Lions

Lions wide receiver Roy Williams took a page out of Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace’s book.

“We will win this game,” Williams said about the upcoming trip to Chicago. “Y’all can take that as a guarantee or whatnot, but we will win this game.

“I’m just saying that when we play the way we are supposed to play, there’s not a defense in the NFL that is going to stop us. If we play that way against the Bears, and we should, we’ll win. It was stupid how close we were to putting 40 points on the board.”

Considering the Lions didn’t have a touchdown against the Seahawks in a 9-6 loss and the Bears had an opening-day shutout at Green Bay, his teammates weren’t quite ready to back up Williams.

“No one is going to be in here saying that we’re close, or that we’re going to be great this weekend,” said quarterback Jon Kitna, unaware of Williams’ comments. “We’ve got to fix a lot of things, and we’ll be facing a fast, proven defense in their home opener.”

It’s going to be rocking and rolling.”

Giants

Enough with the expectations. When you’re 0-1 and have two tough games upcoming, outside praise needs to be ignored.

“They know they can play better,” coach Tom Coughlin said of a 26-21 loss to Indianapolis. “They know they can do better. They know that the game could have been won at any point. The statement I made to them was this:

“I really think we have to stop talking about being good and get good and play good. All of these expectations and all of this talk, it’s all nice and it’s wonderful to hear. But it doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t win. You have to win.”

AP-ES-09-11-06 1836EDT