The Carolina Panthers are anxious to find out what their starting five offensive linemen are capable of accomplishing together.

Because at this point, nobody knows.

Over the first eight games, Carolina's starting five has played together for less than two quarters due to injuries. However, both center Ryan Kalil and right tackle Jeff Otah expressed optimism over returning to the field Nov. 9 against the Oakland Raiders.

"That is the plan," Kalil said Wednesday. "We'll find out next week. But it's feeling better."

Kalil has missed three weeks with a high ankle sprain and Otah four.

"I'm very excited and I'm ready to get out there and give it a try next week and see if I can play next Sunday," said Otah, who is still wearing a protective boot to help his ankle heal.

Nobody is more anxious to get the starting five back than coach John Fox.

And he doesn't seem worried about chemistry being a factor once Kalil and Otah return.

"We've seen them (play together) a lot more than (just one half)," Fox said. "So many people just look at games. But we had four weeks of training camp, four preseason games, an offseason - so we've got some past with a lot of these guys, some more than others. They were starters to start the season for a reason."

When asked if he thinks Kalil and Otah will fit back in OK, Fox said, "Yeah. I think they fit in there pretty good to start with. Again, there are going to be adjustments. But everybody in the league does this every week... We're looking forward to finding that out."

NOTABLE: Quarterback Jake Delhomme was among the first five recipients of the 2008 Ed Block Courage Award. The award is given to one player from each team every year who, "in the eyes of their teammates, exemplifies and displays courage."

Delhomme injured his right elbow in Week 3 of the 2007 season and was placed on injured reserve. He underwent Tommy John surgery later that month and spent the entire offseason rehabilitating the elbow.

He has started every game this season for the 6-2 Panthers and completed 140-of-231 passes for 1,781 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions for a quarterback rating of 88.7.

HALL OF FAME: Western Carolina University will honor Brad Hoover with induction into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame during a halftime ceremony Saturday.

Hoover arrived in Cullowhee in 1996 from Thomasville Ledford High as an overlooked running back, left four seasons later as one of the most heralded players in WCU football history and is currently in his ninth season with the Panthers, where he's become a fan favorite.

As a Catamount, he rushed for 3,616 yards - second most in school history - which included a WCU season record 1,663 yards in 1998. His 251 rushing yards and Southern Conference record-tying five touchdowns against VMI in ‘98 are also school records and, in the same season, keyed an upset of Appalachian State with 195 rushing yards on a school record 49 carries. Hoover was a two-time All-Southern Conference selection.

BY THE NUMBERS: Of Delhomme's 140 completions, 70 have been caught by either Muhsin Muhammad or Steve Smith for 1,120 yards and six touchdowns. Their combined 1,120 yards ranks third in the NFL among wide receiver combinations through the first eight games.

Only Houston's duo of Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter (1,135 yards) and Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston (1,125) have more combined yards.

Muhammad leads the club with 37 receptions for 507 yards and two touchdowns. Smith has paced the team with 613 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 33 receptions through eight games.

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM: There hasn't been as much political debate inside the Panthers locker room as there was four years ago when linebacker Brandon Short was drumming up debates on a daily basis leading up to the presidential election.

"There's not a lot of debate - and that might be a good thing," Delhomme said.

INSIDE THE GAME: After Jonathan Stewart was held to 10 yards on eight carries against Arizona, some wondered if the rookie was beginning to hit the wall.

But Hoover doesn't think that is the case.

"I think people realize he's a very good football player," Hoover said. "I think people are trying to scheme for him and prepare for him a little bit. But at any moment, bam, he can have a breakout game again."

Stewart didn't dispute that some teams might be changing what they do when he enters the game.

"When we played against the Cardinals, I felt like there was a lot more people in the box because of the fact that I'm in the game and we might run the ball - especially when it came to short-yardage situations," Stewart said.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "To rest. I won't say they can't go anywhere. That would be a little different. To be safe and to be smart. No different than when they leave the building every night. I trust them. You earn trust; it's not given to you. I think they've earned that, and we'll see how we handle it."

- Fox on what he expects out of his players the next four days while they have time off.