After first indicating this would be his final season, Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis changed course in June when he said he’d be “very open” to the possibility of playing beyond 2018.

Davis’ immediate future is more certain: The 35-year-old franchise icon will miss the first four games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

But don’t weep for Panthers coach Ron Rivera and new linebackers coach Steve Russ, who inherits a deep group spearheaded by a perennial Pro Bowler that also includes a pair of draft picks.

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