Panthers coach Ron Rivera was confident early in the week that he would have his top cornerback for this week's trip to Chicago.
But after veteran Chris Gamble missed his second consecutive practice Thursday with post-concussion symptoms, Rivera was decidedly less optimistic about Gamble's status for Sunday's game against the Bears.
"He was feeling better the other day and we thought he might have turned the corner. Unfortunately I don't want to call it a setback, he just didn't feel right today,"
Rivera said. "So obviously, we're going to continue the protocol. He'll be re-examined tomorrow and we'll see how it goes."
The Panthers have had one starter miss the last two games following a concussion, right tackle Jeff Otah and safety Charles Godfrey, both of whom have since been cleared. Losing Gamble for a week would leave the Panthers without their best cover corner.
After Gamble struggled through a terrible 2010, Rivera showed confidence by assigning Gamble to the opponent's No. 1 receiver each week. Gamble responded by holding Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald to three catches in Week 1, and has not let up.
If Gamble can't go against the Bears, Rivera will turn to Darius Butler, who was claimed off waivers from New England this month. Butler, the Patriots' second-round pick in 2009, saw his first significant action for the Panthers in last week's win over Jacksonville after Gamble left with the concussion.
Notes: Rivera has not tried to hide his excitement this week as he prepares to play in Chicago, where he spent 14 seasons as a player and coach for the Bears. Rivera, a reserve linebacker on the Bears' famed 1985 Super Bowl team, offered his dining suggestions Thursday for reporters making the trip to Chicago.
Rivera recommended Gino's East for deep-dish pizza, Catch-35 for seafood and in a nod to his former coach Ditka's for steaks.
