After Thursday’s report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that former Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud has a Monday visit set up with the Panthers, many are connecting dots to the end of Charles Godfrey’s time in Carolina. But pump the brakes just a bit.As I wrote last week, Godfrey’s rehab from a torn Achilles is going well, or at least as well as recovering from an injury like that could go. If he returns in good health, he has a solid shot to regain his starting spot.That, of course, isn’t the only if.Godfrey is owed $7.1 in 2014, and the Panthers could save $5.1 million if they make him a post-June 1 cut. But if the team believes he can be a starter, it could and most likely would ask him to a big pay cut. Would he? That’s unclear.The point is, despite concerns about Godfrey’s health and contract, DeCoud’s visit does not necessarily mean Godfrey’s done in Carolina. DeCoud could be insurance if Godfrey has a setback or refuses to chop his salary. Or considering Godfrey’s potential ability to play nickelback, they both could end up on the roster.Not enough is made about how vital nickelback is to the Panthers’ defense. Whether it’s Chase Blackburn or A.J. Klein, weakside linebacker is secondary in importance to who slides in when Carolina goes nickel.Consider this: middle linebacker Luke Kuechly and strongside linebacker Thomas Davis each played 1,078 snaps last season. Blackburn and Klein combined for 374 defensive snaps. Captain Munnerlyn was the main nickelback, playing 1,055 snaps between nickel and cornerback.So while a healthy and cheaper Godfrey would mostly likely return at free safety, it’s not implausible to think another lineup could include Godfrey at nickel, with DeCoud at free safety and Roman Harper at strong safety.There’s obviously no guarantee Godfrey won’t have a setback or will take a healthy pay cut, but don’t count him out just yet.