CHARLOTTE, N. C. — Wednesday was supposed to be when the Carolina Panthers started looking ahead to Sunday’s home game against the Chicago Bears. Instead, it was another day of drama for a team seemingly stuck in turmoil.

Early in the morning, running back DeAngelo Williams posted a tweet that showed his right ankle in a cast.

A few hours later, receiver Steve Smith, who burned his former team for two touchdowns during the Ravens’ Week 4 rout in Baltimore, eviscerated Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Ron Rivera during an interview on a Charlotte radio station.

Then, late in the afternoon, defensive end Frank Alexander was suspended 10 games after violating the league’s substance abuse policy for the second time since May.

All that came three days after the Panthers second blowout loss in as many weeks, and two days after Rivera challenged quarterback Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly in a team meeting.

“I wouldn’t say called out is the right word,” Rivera explained. “I put their numbers up and explained who they are to us. These are the guys we need to play well, to do the things we need to give us an opportunity to win.

“When we’re in certain situations, circumstances, make a play, come through, do something extraordinary. And they’re capable of that. We know that. We can’t make mistakes. They’re the guys that have to be perfect. I did that to let them know I believe in them.”

But neither Newton nor Kuechly are all that responsible for the Panthers’ nosedive. Injuries have made Newton a one-dimensional quarterback, but he is throwing the ball arguably better than any other time in his four-year career. And Kuechly just so happens to lead the NFL with 46 tackles.

Lots of things, too many things, continue to swirl around the Panthers, and they have to lean on their two biggest stars more than ever.

Carolina will likely have to start undrafted rookie Darrin Reaves at running back Sunday, Alexander will not be able to help a stagnant pass rush, and Smith’s still haunting his former team days after he ran past them.

So while Rivera wants Newton to make even more plays on the field, he also needs his quarterback to handle all the outside stuff exactly like he did when he was asked about Smith’s latest digs.

“Moving forward, I’m sticking behind my coach. Do I have a relationship with Steve Smith as far as how we communicate outside this locker room? Yes,” Newton said. “But my main focus is trying to be 3-2 at the end of this week.”

NOTES: RB Jonathan Stewart, who sat out Sunday’s game with a knee sprain, returned to a limited practice Wednesday. …RB Fozzy Whittaker, who missed the last two games with pulled quad, did not practice Wednesday. … LB Thomas Davis, who missed Sunday’s game with a pulled hamstring, practiced in full Wednesday.