National Football League

Panthers coach Rivera hasn't decided on kicker

Published Dec. 16, 2011 9:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera says he won't decide until Saturday if Olindo Mare will remain the team's kicker this Sunday against the Houston Texans or if he'll hand the job over to rookie Adi Kunalic.

The Panthers signed Kunalic on Tuesday after Mare missed a 36-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter that would have given his team a 26-24 lead against Atlanta. The Panthers went on to lose the game 31-23.

Rivera says Mare ''kicked the ball well'' this week.

He also says Kunalic is a little sore from the extra kicking.

Pro Bowl left tackle Jordan Gross is expected to play this week after missing the Atlanta game with a right ankle injury. The only Panther unlikely to play is cornerback Darius Butler (concussion).