Jim Corbett

USA TODAY Sports

CHARLOTTE -- As Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy returned to the team one day after his deactivation for Sunday's 24-7 win against the Detroit Lions, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said the organization is deliberating in doing its due diligence on deciding whether or not Hardy should remain deactivated or return to active status.

When asked if Hardy could play in Sunday night's home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rivera said, "We'll see. We're going to gather our information, do our due diligence and make the decision in the best interest.''

Hardy has appealed his July conviction by a district county judge of two counts of assault and communicating a threat against a female.

Hardy played in the season opening win against Tampa Bay but was made inactive when Rivera reacted to what he called "a change in the climate'' during a week when Baltimore Ravens tailback Ray Rice was indefinitely suspended and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was deactivated by the club after he was indicted Thursday night on child injury charges.

Rivera said that decision would come after the organization has thoroughly talked things through and the longer the wait on a decision, the more a distraction the issue becomes.

"I'm concerned about it because it becomes a distraction that's part of the reason why I made the decision,'' Rivera said. "Because if you play him and you win, then, it's you don't have a conscience. If you play him and you lose, then he's a distraction. So the decision was made in the best interest of the organization.

"What matters is getting it right.''

Did the Panthers get it right the first time?

"I don't know. What is right?'' he asked. "We're going to do the best we can. Hey, nobody's infallible. We all mistakes. We all correct those mistakes and we try to go forward. We understand this issue has to be correct and we have to get this issue correct. We've got to do the right thing.

"And we're trying to do the right thing.''

Rivera said the club has to be careful not to be reactionary. Rivera said Sunday he made the decision to deactivate Hardy after consultation with owner Jerry Richardson and general manager Dave Gettleman.

Though he didn't have direct discussion, Rivera indicated the league has been involved in discussions on the issue.

"We're talking about the whole situation,'' Rivera said. "All that happened was he was deactivated. We didn't suspend him. We're not doing anything of that nature. He was just deactivated. He'll practice this week, get all the treatments he needs and we'll go from there, either activate him or deactivate him.

"This is a very fluid situation guys.''

Hardy's long-term status remains uncertain with nine games to play until his Nov. 17 trial by jury court hearing.

"I know Dave and the guys upstairs are doing due diligence on some things right now,'' Rivera said. "We'll see how things flow from that. The decision made yesterday was based on the information gathered, things we looked at and talked about. And it was made in the best interest of this football team.

"We're going to have to look at what's going on. Dave and the guys upstairs are looking at what our options are.''

Rivera said Hardy "understood'' when the coach informed the player he was deactivated with pay and he returned home, reporting on time for Monday's mandatory team meeting.

The ongoing story also appears to be wearing on some teammates.

"Yeah, you get tired of it. Definitely,'' Panthers center Ryan Khalil said Monday when asked if he and his teammates grow tired of Hardy questions. "What we have to do is go about our business and get ready to play a tough Pittsburgh Steelers opponent. We don't have to make those decisions (on Hardy). I'm glad we don't. I don't envy those hard decisions.

"It's a tough deal, a tough decision coach (Rivera) has to go through. Last week was a tough decision having to sit Cam Newton. I don't envy those decisions."