CHARLOTTE, NC -- The Carolina Panthers host the Dallas Cowboys in their season opener on Sunday. 

There are plenty of storylines within the Panthers dressing room. Here’s a recap from Tuesday.

CURTIS SAMUEL              

The second-year wide receiver did not practice, with what Head Coach Ron Rivera described as a medical issue.

“He saw the doctor today,” Rivera told reporters on Tuesday. “We’ll wait to see what the doctor has to say.”

When follow-up questions came, Rivera acknoweldged he wasn’t completely sure what was wrong with Samuel.

“I stay out of that side of it, that way I don’t have to answer your questions. You know that.  We’ll get back to that routine when we start giving medical reports.”

Later in the day, Ian Rapoport from NFL Network reported that Samuel had undergone a procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat.  Rapoport stressed that it was minor, but would likely keep Samuel out of the lineup this week.

The Panthers release their first injury report on Wednesday, so we will know more then.

MISSING THOMAS DAVIS

The Panthers workweek officially began on Sunday, and with it, the banishment of Thomas Davis until the start of NFL week six.  Davis was handed a four-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy, and the Panthers will play their first four games over a five-week span, thanks to their open date coming in week four.

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn’s locker stall is located next to Davis, and Munnerlyn says Davis is going through something for the first time in his career: being healthy to play, but being unable to play.

“I’m just trying to keep him in good spirits,” Munnerlyn said Tuesday.  “I know I’m going to miss him, a lot of guys have already been messing with me, asking me, ‘you want to move down there to Thieves Avenue [where Carolina’s defensive backs are located in the dressing room], since TD is gone?’ It’s definitely different, he will be missed.”

OFFENSIVE LINE WATCH CONTINUES

The Panthers were off on Monday, but offensive linemen Amini Silatolu and Darryl Williams practiced Sunday and Tuesday.  There is hope that the duo can return for the opener, however, Rivera is working under the guidelines set by the training staff.

“Everything we’re doing is based on what we are being allowed to do based on the doctors and the trainers,” Rivera said Tuesday.  “As we continue each day, they evaluate them each day, and we’re told just how much we are allowed to use them."