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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Drayton Florence could go from playing football with his son in the backyard to NFL starter this week. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Florence, who re-signed with Carolina on Thursday, could be pressed into a starting role this Sunday when the Panthers host Eli Manning and the New York Giants due to injuries at the cornerback position. Florence, a 10-year NFL veteran who has played in 143 career games and started 99, attended training camp with the Panthers and worked primarily with the starters during the preseason before being released in final roster cuts. Florence said he spent the past two weeks at his home in Jacksonville, Fla., playing football with kids, taking them to swim lessons and getting on his wifes nerves. "You have to be ready for everything," Florence said. "It was getting a little frustrating sitting on the couch, so Im glad they thought enough of me to bring me back." Rivera said injuries to cornerbacks Josh Thomas (concussion) and Josh Norman (thigh bruise) prompted the Panthers to re-sign Florence. Although both Thomas and Norman returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday, there is still plenty of concern over their status for Sunday. Two other Carolina cornerbacks -- DJ Moore (knee) and James Dockery (hand) -- did not practice Thursday. "The concern is not only if everyone is going to be cleared, but if theyre going to be 100 per cent," Rivera said. "As we look at it, a concussion is scary thing and a cornerback with a deep thigh bruise is a scary thing. We had to take a lot of things into account and we think (signing Florence) was a prudent move. ... We were down to two healthy cornerbacks." Rivera said he has plenty of confidence in Florence, saying he fit right in at practice Thursday. "It was like he never left," Rivera said. "He did a nice job understanding the concepts that were using for this game. Its interesting, but veteran guys like that do make the transition easily." Florence has played for San Diego, Jacksonville, Buffalo and Detroit and has 444 career tackles and 18 interceptions. Florence said hes happy to be back in Carolina, despite the way things abruptly and unexpectedly ended three weeks ago. He called it a humbling experience. "Anytime you get fired from your job its tough, but it would be a lot tougher to come back and be a disappointment," Florence said. Rivera also seems to have settled on a starting strong safety. He ruled out Quintin Mikell for the game Sunday and said he expects undrafted rookie Robert Lester from Alabama will get his first NFL start against Manning. Lester was promoted from the teams practice squad to the 53-man roster earlier this week. "We think Robert Lester is a young man thats got an opportunity," Rivera said. "Hes the next best available for us." Mike Mitchell will start at free safety for Carolina and Captain Munnerlyn will be the other starting cornerback. NOTES: To make room on the roster for Florence, the Panthers waived backup centre Brian Folkerts. ... Rivera said it is likely rookie RB Kenjon Barner (foot) will be held out until after the bye week. Ender Inciarte Jersey . -- Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen took the second-round lead Saturday in the Champions Tours Legends of Golf, teaming for a 6-under 48 in windy conditions on the par-3 Top of the Rock course. Freddie Freeman Jersey . - In about six minutes, the Memphis Grizzlies had allowed their 23-point lead to be cut to seven. http://www.thebravesteamshop.com/Braves-Phil-Niekro-Kids-Jersey/ . Cleveland released the troubled wide receiver on Wednesday, an expected ending after Bess was arrested in January for assaulting a law enforcement officer at an airport and other bizarre behaviour. Jose Ramirez Jersey . The league-leading New York Rangers outhit and outmuscled the Maple Leafs during a 3-0 victory on Saturday. Backup goalie Martin Biron stopped all 20 shots he faced to complete a nice workmanlike effort by the visitors. Atlanta Braves Jerseys . -- Get a flow chart ready to follow the Packers quarterback situation.Wolves caretaker boss Rob Edwards will be without goalkeeper Carl Ikeme for his first home game in charge against Derby, live on Sky Sports 1 HD. Ikeme was forced off with a hip injury during the draw at Blackburn last weekend - Edwards first match in charge following Walter Zengas departure - so summer signing Andy Lonergan is set to come into the team for his full league debut. Wolves vs Derby November 5, 2016, 12:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Striker Joe Mason has undergone a hernia operation and is likely to be out for around four weeks while winger Jordan Graham remains sidelined after a second bout of knee surgery. Edwards has the likes of Richard Stearman, George Saville, Nouha Dicko, Brito Joao Teixeira and Ricardo Ivan Cavaleiro available should he wish to make any further changes to his starting line-up. Highlights of Blackburn v Wolves in the Sky Bet Championship Derby boss Steve McClaren hopes to have a handful of players back in his squad for Saturdays lunchtime kick-off at Molineux.ddddddddddddWill Hughes returns to contention after serving a suspension while fellow central midfielder Craig Bryson and defenders Jason Shackell and Max Lowe could be available after injury following a return to training this week. Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match Derby and Sheffield Wednesday Shackell played 90 minutes for the Rams Under-23 side this week after around six weeks out with a calf injury, while Bryson and Lowe have had short-term lay-offs with their own respective muscle problems.However, some bad news for McClaren sees forward Nick Blackman set for an absence of up to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery. Get Sky Sports Alerts Breaking news, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - direct to your mobile ' ' '