David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

DeAngelo Williams on target for Thursday night return

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams appears on target to return for an Oct. 30 Thursday night game against the New Orleans Saints.

Williams has missed the past three games with an ankle injury and is not expected to play Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

He has been on the practice field this week working on the side with the trainer, but has not participated in drills.

"This is kind of like Jonathan [Stewart] a couple of weeks ago, sitting there saying, 'How close are we, how close are we?'" Rivera said of his other back who returned Sunday against Green Bay after missing three games with a sprained knee.

"We could put him out there and say, 'Well, we were 95 percent close,' and all of a sudden something bad happens and now you're back to 65 percent. DeAngelo is the same way. We're being very smart with this, very calculated."

Nickel cornerback Bene' Benwikere (ankle), linebacker Chase Blackburn (knee), wide receiver Philly Brown (concussion), guard Amini Silatolu (calf), guard Trai Turner (knee), running back Fozzy Whittaker (quad) and right tackle Nate Chandler (thigh) also did not practice.

Rivera said he expects Chandler to play against Seattle. Silatolu appears doubtful, which means rookie Andrew Norwell will start at left guard.

Left tackle Byron Bell practiced for the second straight day after suffering an elbow contusion Sunday and is expected to play.

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