SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — In six seasons as the Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator, Mike Trgovac has constantly added new wrinkles to the defense.

This offseason, Trgovac and coach John Fox figured it was time to pare down the number of schemes and checkoffs to make things simpler for his younger players.

“When you’re together as a staff sometimes for six years, you put something in, you put something in and you never take something out,” Trgovac said Thursday. “And we just thought it was time to go back and take a hard look at ourselves and take some things out.”

It’s produced a system that allows players to use their instincts more. Cornerback Ken Lucas was vocal in his support of the new scheme, and it’s allowed rookie starting safety Charles Godfrey, and newly signed starting defensive end Tyler Brayton to catch on quicker in training camp.

“Maybe we were thinking too much,” Trgovac said. “We tried to simplify the defense a little bit. When you have new guys like Charles coming in and Tyler coming in and the young guys we had, obviously the less you have to learn the better we think it is.

The Panthers lost veteran defensive players Mike Minter, Mike Rucker and Dan Morgan to retirement in the past year.

As many as five starters this season could have less than two years experience in Carolina.

“We’re starting to get a bigger turnover of guys at this point,” Trgovac said. “So we took a hard look at our coaches and decided to simplify a little bit.”

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ROBINSON INJURED: Return man and receiver Ryne Robinson clutched his left knee in pain after a jarring collision with safety Nate Salley while trying to catch a deep ball during Thursday’s practice.

Robinson eventually limped to a tent near the practice field and did not return. The team had no update on his condition Thursday night.

Robinson’s absence late in practice allowed rookie running back Jonathan Stewart to return kickoffs for the first time in camp. Stewart did fumble one return, but Fox hinted he might use him there despite his expected major role carrying the ball.

“He is a guy that did it very well at a high level in college,” Fox said. “He’s somebody we’ll take a look at. Whether we put him in games in the preseason, we’ve not determined that. He’s a guy that’s definitely a viable candidate to be a kickoff returner.”

Ricardo Colclough also returned kickoffs.

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LOT OF WORK: With four defensive tackles sidelined with injuries, Stephen Williams, Gary Gibson and Nick Hayden were forced to take all the reps with the top three units.

It’s a lot of work, but a good experience.

“You prefer them being out there,” Fox said. “We’re getting good and we’re getting valuable reps for the guys underneath them and I think it helps their development.”

But the lack of depth forced Fox to cancel a full-contact goal-line drill late in the practice.

The most serious injury is to Ian Scott, who will miss at least a couple of weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Damione Lewis (ankle), Maake Kemoeatu (shoulder) and Darwin Walker (concussion-like symptoms) remained out Thursday, although Lewis predicted he’ll be practicing soon.

“I want to be out there helping them and sharing those reps with them rather than sitting on the sideline,” Lewis said.

Linebacker Adam Seward (abdominal), tackle Charles Spencer (knee) and running back LaBrandon Toefield (shoulder) also sat out.

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EXTRA POINTS: The Panthers took turns using offensive linemen as tackle-eligible receivers in goal-line drills. Geoff Hangartner and Evan Mathis each failed to come up with passes. ... WR Dwayne Jarrett worked on special teams. ... A brief shower didn’t interrupt the lone workout. ... The Panthers practice twice Friday, at 9:10 a.m and 6:40 p.m. The team will then travel to Charlotte for Saturday’s annual workout at Bank of America Stadium at 11 a.m. Admission is free.

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