CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Veteran Carolina Panthers defensive end Mike Rucker has changed his mind about retiring this NFL offseason, a report said.
Rucker, 32, suffered a torn left knee ligament late in the 2006 season and returned eight months later. He finished the 2007 season with three sacks, one forced fumble and 47 tackles (16 for loss).
"Mike is fired up, motivated and looking forward to continuing his career," Rucker's agent, Peter Schaeffer, told The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer. "(The knee) is 100 percent."
The nine-year veteran, who has spent his entire NFL career with Carolina, has career totals of 347 tackles (second in franchise history) and 55 1/2 sacks.
The seventh round pick in the 1999 NFL draft has played in 139 games, third on the Panthers' all-time list.
The University of Nebraska product will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this month.
Other reports have said he would not object to returning to the Panthers as a backup.
