Tag: Atlanta Falcons

Panthers activate RB Miles Sanders, announce 4 other roster moves for Week 18

The Panthers are getting a much-needed boost at the running back position.

The Carolina Panthers are getting a much-needed boost in their backfield for Week 18.

As announced this afternoon, the team has activated running back Miles Sanders from injured reserve ahead of tomorrow’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. The sixth-year veteran, who was designated to return to practice earlier in the week, has missed the last six games due to an ankle sprain.

Sanders last played in the Panthers’ Week 10 win over the New York Giants from Munich’s Allianz Arena. Over his 10 appearances in 2024, he’s rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries.

Carolina’s 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the first outing after starting running back Chuba Hubbard’s placement on season-ending injured reserve, yielded a season-low 39 rushing yards. Return specialist Raheem Blackshear led the team with 20 rushing yards on eight attempts.

The Panthers also elevated outside linebackers Thomas Incoom and Kenny Dyson for Sunday’s contest. Fellow outside linebacker DJ Johnson, who sustained a concussion in a car accident on Thursday, will not be available.

Johnson will be joined on the shelf by another outside ‘backer in Amaré Barno, who was placed on injured reserve as part of today’s moves. Carolina signed defensive lineman DeShawn Williams from their practice squad to fill Barno’s void.

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Panthers are wearing this uniform combo for the first time since 1998 . . .

The Panthers are breaking out a uniform combo that hasn’t been seen since the Clinton Administration.

The Carolina Panthers are partying like it’s 1998 to close out their 2024 campaign.

As announced on Friday, the team will be wearing their silver helmets, white jerseys, silver pants and white socks for their regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. And as first noted by Panthers long snapper JJ Jansen, Sunday will mark the first time they’ll be rolling out that very combination in 26 years . . .

That 1998 visit to Indianapolis ended up as a victorious one for Carolina. The Panthers—powered by a pair of 100-yard performances from running back Tim Biakabutuka and wide receiver Raghib “Rocket” Ismail—bested Peyton Manning, Marshall Faulk and the Colts for a 27-19 win.

Carolina’s triumph also saw three-time First-team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler Michael Bates return a kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown—now the fifth-longest kickoff return in franchise history.

So maybe, just maybe, there’s something to this rare uniform combo . . .

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Are Bucs in NFL playoffs? What needs to happen for TB to make postseason

But with the Bucs not being in the playoffs yet, how much is at stake in their Week 18 matchup?

In less than 24 hours, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will kick off against their division rival, the New Orleans Saints. That game is one where the Bucs can control their own destiny with a win, a loss would require them to root for other teams to have specific outcomes.

But with the Bucs not being in the playoffs yet, how much is at stake in their Week 18 matchup?

We talked about how they can control their own destiny, and it is very matter-of-fact. A win secures them the NFC South and the fourth seed at minimum in the NFC Playoffs. A loss would mean they need the Atlanta Falcons to lose to the Carolina Panthers, which isn’t likely.

It is almost win or go home for the Bucs. They fought tooth and nail to come back from a 4-6 start to the season. Now they are just 60 minutes away from securing their fourth straight NFC South division title.

Panthers HC Dave Canales: OLB DJ Johnson involved in car accident

Panthers HC Dave Canales told reporters on Friday that OLB DJ Johnson was involved in a car accident this week. He will not play on Sunday.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Friday that outside linebacker DJ Johnson was involved in a car accident this week.

Canales was asked about the second-year defender’s sudden inclusion on this week’s injury report, which listed Johnson as out for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons due to a personal matter.

“It was a car accident,” Canales stated this afternoon. “That’s pretty much what I know about it. But enough to the point where he’s in evaluation right now.”

He was then asked about Johnson’s current condition.

“I have not seen him,” replied Canales, who also added that Johnson’s accident was not life-threatening.

Johnson was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.

He has appeared in 14 games this season.

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Panthers Week 18 injury report: 2 key defensive starters out vs. Falcons

The Panthers will once again be without CB Jaycee Horn and ILB Josey Jewell.

Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn will not be finishing out his Pro Bowl campaign.

Horn, who was officially named to his first Pro Bowl Games yesterday morning, has been ruled out for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons due to his hip injury. The fourth-year defender also missed last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Inside linebacker Josey Jewell will also sit out of this weekend’s contest with a concussion. Like Horn, Jewell did not suit up for Week 17’s trip to Raymond James Stadium.

Here’s the full injury report from Friday:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
OLB Amaré Barno Shoulder DNP DNP DNP Out
CB Jaycee Horn Hip DNP DNP DNP Out
G Robert Hunt Knee DNP Limited DNP Questionable
ILB Josey Jewell Concussion DNP DNP DNP Out
S Lonnie Johnson Jr. Shoulder/neck DNP DNP DNP Out
CB Mike Jackson Rest DNP Full Full –
DL A’Shawn Robinson Neck DNP DNP Limited Questionable
OLB D.J. Wonnum Rest DNP Limited Full –
OT Taylor Moton Knee Limited DNP Limited Questionable
RB Miles Sanders Ankle Full Limited Full Questionable
WR Xavier Legette Hip/wrist Full Limited Limited Questionable
S Nick Scott Illness DNP Full Full –
OLB Jadeveon Clowney Rest DNP Full –
OLB DJ Johnson Personal DNP Out

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Panthers G Robert Hunt plans to make a bit of franchise history in Week 18 with Guardian Cap

Panthers G Robert Hunt told reporters that he plans on trying out the Guardian Cap to close out the 2024 season.

Carolina Panthers starting right guard Robert Hunt is set to make a bit of franchise history to close out the 2024 campaign.

Hunt, after Thursday’s practice, told reporters that he will be wearing a Guardian Cap for this weekend’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. If he follows through with his plans, the fifth-year hog molly would be the first Panther to ever don the new headgear.

The Guardian Cap, which has been introduced into the NFL here in 2024, is a cover of soft-shelled pads won over the helmet. The objective of the cap is, of course, to reduce the severity of impact to the head.

Hunt, who was named a second Pro Bowl alternate earlier in the day, has played in each of Carolina’s 967 offensive snaps this season.

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Panthers CB Jaycee Horn among 5 starters held out of Thursday’s practice

Newly-minted Pro Bowler Jaycee Horn did not participate for a second straight practice.

Unfortunately, a Pro Bowl selection does not come with magical healing powers.

Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn, fresh off being named to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games this morning, did not practice on Thursday due to a hip injury. Horn, who also sat out from Wednesday’s session, missed his first game of the 2024 season this past Sunday because of the setback.

Horn was joined on the side by fellow starters in right tackle Taylor Moton (rest), defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (neck), inside linebacker Josey Jewell (concussion) and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (concussion).

Here is the full injury report from this afternoon:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
OLB Amaré Barno Shoulder DNP DNP
CB Jaycee Horn Hip DNP DNP
G Robert Hunt Knee DNP Limited
ILB Josey Jewell Concussion DNP DNP
S Lonnie Johnson Jr. Shoulder/neck DNP DNP
CB Mike Jackson Rest DNP Full
DL A’Shawn Robinson Neck DNP DNP
OLB D.J. Wonnum Rest DNP Limited
OT Taylor Moton Knee Limited DNP
RB Miles Sanders Ankle Full Limited
WR Xavier Legette Hip/wrist Full Limited
S Nick Scott Illness DNP Full
OLB Jadeveon Clowney Rest DNP

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What playoff scenarios exist for the Bucs heading into Week 18?

Their playoff scenarios are pretty cut and dry, but there is a unique twist for the Bucs that isn’t discussed often.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a unique situation as opposed to most of the other teams pursuing their NFL playoff dreams. They have to win the NFC South; otherwise, they are not good enough to make it to the dance with the rest of the teams in the NFL.

Their playoff scenarios are pretty cut and dry, but there is a unique twist: they can not only be the fourth seed, but they also have a shot at the third seed.

Here are the scenarios they have in front of them:

  • They can earn the three-seed if they beat the Saints and the Rams lose to the Seahawks
  • They get the four-seed with a win over the Saints or with a Rams win and losses by both the Falcons and them

Ideally, they win on Sunday in a game they are in with no other games to worry about. It has to be reassuring as a fan, however, knowing that if they get upset, they still have a chance of winning the division.

Lots of drama to unfold on the final Sunday of the NFL schedule.

Miles Sanders is asked if he thought he already played his last game for the Panthers

Miles Sanders’ last moment as a Panther could’ve come when he was carted off the field in Germany. But he didn’t see it that way.

The final moment for Miles Sanders in a Carolina Panthers uniform could’ve very well been the one in which he was carted off the field at Munich’s Allianz Arena in Week 10. But he doesn’t seem to think that was ever the case.

On Wednesday, the Panthers officially designated Sanders to return to practice. The sixth-year veteran, who has missed the last six games due to an ankle sprain, now has a chance of suiting up for the team’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons this weekend.

That prospect seemed to be an unlikely one for Sanders, who has continued to fade into the background since joining Carolina in 2023. Between the organization’s second-round selection of Jonathon Brooks in the spring and their long-term investment into Chuba Hubbard in November, Sanders has become a third wheel of sorts.

So, he was asked this afternoon if he thought that game in Germany was going to be his last as a Panther . . .

Sanders joined the Panthers on a four-year, $25.4 million agreement in March of 2023. He’d then go on to have the worst season of his NFL career—recording lows in starts (five), attempts (129) and rushing yards (432) while averaging 3.3 yards per carry.

Before his ankle injury, Sanders appeared in 10 games as the change-of-pace option to Hubbard. He rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries.

The Panthers, even with Brooks’ second ACL tear casting considerable doubt on his sophomore campaign, could still move on from Sanders before next season.

If Carolina releases or trades Sanders before the start of the new league year in March, they can accumulate approximately $5.22 million in cap savings for 2025 while taking on $2.95 million in dead cap. If they were to designate him with a post-July 1 release or trade, they can save $6.7 million and absorb dead-cap hits of $1.47 million in both 2025 and 2026.

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