The Carolina Panthers could be especially thin at two positions this week when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Two running backs have already been ruled out and three defensive ends are listed as questionable.
Here is the team’s complete Week 10 injury report.
| Player | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Status |
| RB Christian McCaffrey | Shoulder | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| OT Russell Okung | Calf | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| DE Stephen Weatherly | Finger | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| TE Ian Thomas | Not-injury-related | DNP | DNP | – | – |
| LB Jeremy Chinn | Knee | Limited | Limited | Full | Questionable |
| RB Reggie Bonnafon | Ankle | Limited | Limited | DNP | Out |
| DE Marquis Haynes | Shoulder | Limited | Limited | Full | Questionable |
| DE Yetur Gross-Matos | Ankle | Full | Full | Full | Questionable |
| DE Austin Larkin | Groin | – | – | Limited | Questionable |
| CB Donte Jackson | Toe | Full | Full | Full | Questionable |
| DE Brian Burns | Groin | – | Limited | Full | – |
| RB Mike Davis | Toe | – | Full | Full | – |
| DT Bravvion Roy | Not-injury-related | – | – | DNP | – |
With McCaffrey and Bonnafon both ruled out, Davis will get the bulk of the work at running back. Apparently, Trenton Cannon will be backing him up. There’s also Alex Armah and Curtis Samuel as rushing options. If the Panthers don’t feel like that’s enough, they might activate undrafted rookie Rodney Smith from the practice squad. During his Zoom presser today, coach Matt Rhule said he’s hopeful McCaffrey can return next week.
As for defensive end, Rhule also said that he anticipates Weatherly will be out for a while. That could mean a much larger role for second-round pick Yetur Gross-Matos, who was activated from the injured reserve list last week but didn’t play much against the Chiefs. His status makes that far from certain, though. With Haynes, Larkin and Gross-Matos all not operating at 100%, the team may have to rely heavily on Efe Obada to play opposite Brian Burns.
At left tackle, at this point it’s a free-for-all. Okung has now missed more games than he’s played and Dennis Daley, Greg Little and Trent Scott could all get snaps regardless of who starts.
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