The Carolina Panthers haven't missed a beat this season despite multiple injuries on both lines and at receiver and linebacker. This week, the secondary's depth could be tested for the first time.

Cornerback Charles Tillman, who tweaked his knee late in Week 10's win at Tennessee, is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Redskins. If Tillman can't go, it'll be the first time this season the Panthers will have to use a different starting lineup in the secondary.

Bené Benwikere would shift to Tillman's spot on the outside with Colin Jones sliding into Benwikere's role in the slot. Besides Josh Norman, Teddy Williams is the only other corner on the Panthers' roster.

For what it's worth, Benwikere's not concerned.

"Yeah, we've always got the juice," he said. "We good."

 

 

Benwikere, who started on the outside for the final four games and playoffs in 2014, has spelled Tillman a good bit this year. But while Benwikere has played 87 percent of the snaps, most have come at nickel corner, where he admittedly hasn't been as consistent.

"When you're on the outside, it's easier to get locked into your one guy because there's not much you have to read. You're really only looking at the No. 2 receiver. He may go inside; there's not much else you have to look at," Benwikere said. "But when I'm inside, sometimes I have to read a pattern progression that's matched up with the linebacker."

"Sometimes I may think, 'OK, I took away the first read and now [the quarterback's] onto the second read. He looked to the opposite side of the field, so I don't see [the No. 1 option] that's coming across my face or something else like that. So it's just following all my progressions when I'm in there at nickel."

The Redskins' passing game ranks 18th, but they could cause some problems. Pierre Garcon can be a handful physically, rookie Jamison Crowder is slippery in the slot, and DeSean Jackson, one of the league's top passing threats, is two games into his return from a hamstring injury.

"[Jackson] looks to be moving fine," Benwikere said. "With our record, I'm pretty sure you'll see him more active and getting more things his way."

During Friday's practice, Tillman rode the exercise bike and, according to Rivera, is lobbying to play. But in what is usually a death knell for a guy's game day status, Rivera brought out his "we've got to be smart" line.

"[Tillman's] an older, veteran guy that we've got to be smarter about. For him, it's not just about this game, but what it is going down the road," Rivera said.

"Everybody wants to talk about the next game – winning, winning, winning. We've got to look at the long term."

 

 

Before torn triceps cut short each of Tillman's previous two seasons, the 34 year old had been exceptionally durable. During his first 10 years in Chicago, he played in 146 of a possible 160 games. The last time he had to sit out for something other than his triceps was in 2009, a week after he was rushed to the hospital with cracked ribs and a bruised lung.

Even with Tillman likely to miss Sunday's game, the Panthers are at least fortunate to have a replacement like Benwikere. But he – and Norman – need to stay healthy.

"This is nothing new. This is not a group of guys that all of a sudden we're trying to find out, but what it does is, what if something happens?" Rivera said. "That's when you start to get concerned."