Panthers' Sam Franklin: Expected to start

Franklin should start Sunday against the Vikings, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Franklin will be the one to get the nod at free safety in place of Xavier Woods, who will be out with a hamstring injury. The Temple product ended up playing 53 defensive snaps against the Seahawks in Week 3, after Woods left with the injury, and recorded five tackles and a pass defended.