Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy will look into the possibility of immediate reinstatement to play for Carolina after learning his domestic violence appeal trial set for November is being postponed until sometime after the NFL season, a source told ESPN's Ed Werder.
Bleacher Report earlier reported that Hardy would look into potential reinstatement.
Hardy does not know what the chances are that commissioner Roger Goodell will consider accommodating the request, the source told Werder. Only Goodell can reinstate Hardy from the commissioner's exempt list. The defensive end has been ineligible to practice or to play, but still receives his full weekly game checks.
Hardy's trial was originally scheduled for Nov. 17. The new trial date has not been set, a source said.
Before the third game of the regular season, Hardy was placed on the exempt list until his case was resolved. Unless he is taken off that list, his season, and possibly his tenure with the team, is over.
The 2013 Pro Bowl selection is making $13 million under the franchise tag and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following this year.
Carolina coach Ron Rivera recently said Hardy hasn't been at the stadium since being placed on the list, but not because the team "asked him to stay away."
Rivera had maintained optimism the team's 2013 sack leader will be reinstated once his domestic violence case was heard.
Hardy's attorney, Chris Fialko, said on July 15 when he announced the player would appeal the guilty verdict of a Mecklenburg County judge that there are several older cases that might push Hardy's into 2015.
Hardy was arrested and charged with assaulting and threatening ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder in May. He played in the first game, but was placed on the inactive list before the second game after Ray Rice was released by Baltimore the day a video of his assaulting his wife was released.
Hardy went on the inactive list the following Wednesday.
"I believe, from what I've been told, he's been working out and doing the thing he needs to do," Rivera recently said. "Hopefully, when things are all worked out and everything comes to a conclusion everybody can go forward."
Asked if he had any idea when Hardy might return to Bank of America Stadium, Rivera said, "At the appropriate time."
Information from ESPN.com Panthers reporter David Newton was used in this report.