SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) – Once considered a rebuilding project, the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line has become a concern as injuries mount.

Two Carolina starters – Tutan Reys and Matt Willig – were carted off the field Sunday.

Reyes was initially diagnosed with a sprained ankle, and Willig with a bruised knee. The exact extent of the injuries will be known after medical tests, coach John Fox said.

Reyes’ injury appeared to be the more serious of the two. He left the field in obvious pain and was barely able to put any pressure on his left leg.

Although Reyes has never started an NFL game, he’s had an outstanding training camp and was dubbed the replacement for Jeno James, who left in the offseason to sign a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins.

Willig was Carolina’s second-string right tackle, but was pressed into duty after free agent Adam Meadows’ abruptly retired two weeks ago. Meadows had signed a five-year, $15 million contract in the offseason and was brought in to replace Todd Steussie, who was released. Right guard Kevin Donnalley also retired.

Giants

Tight end Jeremy Shockey is listed as day-to-day after straining his right hamstring.

Shockey, who was injured in Saturday’s practice, watched both practice sessions on Sunday at the University at Albany.

“No injury, a setback,” Shockey said Sunday.

Shockey, whose practice time was supposed to increase this week, was hurt reaching for a pass thrown by Jesse Palmer.

The two-time Pro Bowl tight end had surgery on his right foot in June. He did not participate in any live drills in the first two weeks of training camp and has practiced on a limited basis in recent days.

“It’s frustrating for Jeremy. It’s frustrating for us,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “It’s very unfortunate. His foot feels fine.”

Chargers

Quarterback Doug Flutie hasn’t regretted taking Drew Brees under his wing.

Flutie’s situation in San Diego is not like his stint in Buffalo, where he and quarterback Rob Johnson were more rivals than teammates.

So far, Brees hasn’t disappointed his 41-year-old backup.

“He’s throwing the ball real sharp, but he’s been doing that all offseason,” Flutie said Sunday. “I told him how I really love how aggressive he was (in Arizona) with the ball. He was decisive, and he was throwing the ball up the field when he had opportunities to. He made some plays.”

Brees, the Chargers’ second-round draft pick in 2001, has done that with regularity in the team’s two exhibition games. In Saturday’s 38-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Brees completed 13 of 21 attempts, for 172 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Overall this preseason, Brees is 24-of-35.

After getting picked on all offseason – and following the Chargers deal to bring in still-unsigned Philip Rivers – Brees’ swagger is returning.

“Drew has played well the last two weeks, but it’s not surprising to me,” running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. “I said that Drew was going to bounce back, and he is proving what type of player he is.”

Colts

Wide receiver Troy Walters might need surgery on his broken right arm, an injury sustained in Saturday night’s 31-7 preseason loss to the New York Jets.

Coach Tony Dungy said Sunday a decision on the surgery would be made Monday and that he was still not sure whether Walters would miss the rest of the season.

Walters was hurt on the first series when Peyton Manning tried to throw a deep pass over the middle. As Walters looked up and reached for the ball, New York Jets safety Jon McGraw closed fast and hit him hard around the shoulders.

Dungy also said rookie linebacker Gilbert Gardner, who had a high ankle sprain in the game, would be out this week and that the team is awaiting MRI results to determine how much time he’ll miss.

Titans

Pro Bowl punter Craig Hentrich will have an MRI exam on his lower back Monday to determine the cause of back spasms that kept him out of the Titans’ 16-15 exhibition win over Buffalo.

The Titans believe Hentrich hurt himself during warm-ups before practice Thursday, which led to some back spasms.

Offensive lineman Matt Martin may miss up to a week with a sprained right ankle.

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Texans

Linebacker Marcus Bell and cornerback Vontez Duff sustained shoulder injuries in the Houston’s 38-3 loss to Pittsburgh, but neither injury is thought to be serious.

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Jaguars

Jacksonville released defensive end Tony Brackens because the team’s career sack leader struggled this preseason with the latest in a string of leg injuries.

Brackens, an eight-year veteran and former second-round pick, had been on the sidelines since Aug. 10 with a strained muscle in back of his right knee.

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Raiders

Outside linebacker DeLawrence Grant will miss three to four weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Sunday.

Grant was held out of the Raiders’ 21-20 preseason loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday because of cointinued pain in the knee. Coach Norv Turner said Grant apparently was injured earlier in training camp, but the full extent of the damage wasn’t known until an MRI was performed after the game.

Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, whose older brother Kabeer plays for the Green Bay Packers, is expected to replace Grant.

AP-ES-08-22-04 2213EDT