Tag: Damien Lewis

Panthers WR Diontae Johnson misses Thursday’s practice with groin injury

The Panthers were without WR Diontae Johnson and LG Damien Lewis at Thursday’s practice.

Another day, another practice without starting left guard Damien Lewis.

On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers held their standout hog molly out of practice for the second consecutive outing. Lewis, who made an early exit in the Week 3 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, is currently dealing with an elbow injury.

Head coach Dave Canales provided an update on Lewis’ status yesterday.

“He injured his UCL,” Canales told reporters. “They did some assessment of that. They gave us a really broad window for that one. So, we’re trying to just push him and see what we can get out of him, see if we can get him back out there. But that’s kinda up in the air.”

His availability is very much in the air for Sunday, when the Panthers host the 0-3 Cincinnati Bengals in their second home game of the season. If Lewis cannot go, expect second-year lineman and 2023 fourth-round pick Chandler Zavala to get the starting nod at left guard.

The team was also without its top wideout in Diontae Johnson, who missed practice with a groin injury. He told reporters, however, that his absence was a precaution.

Johnson is fresh off notching a career-high 122 receiving yards.

Here’s Thursday’s injury report in full:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
OLB Jadeveon Clowney Rest DNP Full
DL A’Shawn Robinson Knee DNP Limited
CB Lonnie Johnson Hip DNP DNP
G Damien Lewis Elbow DNP DNP
DL Shy Tuttle Foot DNP DNP
RB Chuba Hubbard Rest Limited Full
S Nick Scott Quadriceps Limited Limited
QB Andy Dalton Ankle Full Full
WR Diontae Johnson Groin DNP
OT Taylor Moton Rest DNP

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Panthers G Damien Lewis dealing with elbow injury

Panthers starting LG Damien Lewis is currently dealing with a UCL injury.

The Carolina Panthers might have to be a little touch-and-go on one of their big men.

Starting left guard Damien Lewis did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, the first ahead of Sunday’s Week 4 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, due to an elbow injury. Shortly after the injury report was released, head coach Dave Canales took the lectern and provided some details on Lewis’ status.

“He injured his UCL,” Canales told reporters this afternoon. “They did some assessment of that. They gave us a really broad window for that one. So, we’re trying to just push him and see what we can get out of him, see if we can get him back out there. But that’s kinda up in the air.”

Lewis, who signed a four-year, $53 million deal to join the Panthers this past spring, has given the team an early return on their investment. The 6-foot-3, 332-pounder currently boasts an 80.9 pass-blocking from Pro Football Focus, the sixth-highest amongst all guards this season.

If Lewis is unavailable this weekend, second-year lineman Chandler Zavala—who played 22 snaps in place of Lewis in Week 3’s 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders—would likely get the start.

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Panthers QB Andy Dalton pops up on Wednesday’s injury report

Panthers QB Andy Dalton showed up on Wednesday’s injury report with an ankle issue.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton seems to be a little banged up after his triumphant performance.

The 36-year-old was listed on the first injury report of the week ahead of this Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. But don’t fret, Panthers fans, he was still a full participant despite an ankle injury.

Dalton, in his first start since replacing struggling second-year quarterback Bryce Young, completed 26 of his 37 throws for 319 yards and three touchdowns in the 36-22 upset over the Las Vegas Raiders. The stunning victory saw Dalton become the first NFL quarterback this season to pass for both 300 yards and three scores in a single game.

Here’s Wednesday’s full injury report:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
OLB Jadeveon Clowney Rest DNP
DL A’Shawn Robinson Knee DNP
CB Lonnie Johnson Hip DNP
G Damien Lewis Elbow DNP
DL Shy Tuttle Foot DNP
RB Chuba Hubbard Rest Limited
S Nick Scott Quadriceps Limited
QB Andy Dalton Ankle Full

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Panthers players react to their 1st win of 2024 season

The Panthers took some much-needed, well-deserved victory laps on social media after their upset of the Raiders.

Not many folks believed the Carolina Panthers had much of a chance to pick up their first win of the 2024 season on Sunday. Well, guess what?

The Panthers pounded their way to a 36-22 victory in Week 3 over the Las Vegas Raiders. Led by a sparkling performance by new starting quarterback Andy Dalton, Carolina hit on pretty much all cylinders to pull off the stunning upset.

And, rightfully so, the team took some much-needed and well-deserved victory laps on Twitter/X following the triumph . . .

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4 things to know for Panthers vs. Raiders in Week 3

Panthers HC Dave Canales is hoping to alter his team’s fortunes beginning in Week 3.

Despite piecing together about as brutal of an 0-2 start as possible, the Carolina Panthers step into Week 3 with a little renewed hope—as a switch under center could result in a switch in fortunes.

But before we hit kickoff on Sunday, here are four things to know about this week’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders:

First-year matchup

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Both Dave Canales and Antonio Pierce have entered 2024 as first-time full-time head coaches. And Week 3 will be the first time that either face a fellow first-year head coach.

Canales comes into the match looking for his first career win, whereas Pierce can snag his second this season and his seventh overall—with five coming in his interim role in 2023. Both are also looking to establish their cultures amidst a pair of shaky quarterback situations.

The Red Rifle

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Speaking of shaky quarterback situations, the Panthers have decided to bench the struggling Bryce Young after just 18 career starts. They’ll now look to 14th-year veteran Andy Dalton for some form of offensive success.

Dalton made one start for Carolina in 2023, passing for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. So that success brings a bit of hope that the 36-year-old could unlock some functionality that we have yet to see from this offense in 2024.

Gladiator match

Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

The major strengths for both teams reside in the trenches.

For Las Vegas, it’s on defense—where stars Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins reside. For Carolina, it’s actually been on offense—where this offseason’s investments into guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt have already begun to pay off.

Whoever can control the line of scrimmage, particularly in this battle, should have the advantage.

Tight history

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers-Raiders matchups are pretty rare, as the two teams have met just seven times. Las Vegas has the slight edge, carrying a 4-3 mark against Carolina heading into the weekend.

The Panthers can even up the all-time series by notching their first (and much-needed) win of the 2024 campaign.

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Panthers Week 3 injury report: Starting DL Shy Tuttle doubtful vs. Raiders

The Panthers will likely be without another starting defensive lineman in Week 3.

The Carolina Panthers may have even more troubling defending the run.

Friday’s injury report for this weekend’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders lists starting nose tackle Shy Tuttle as doubtful. Tuttle missed the entire of week practice due to a foot injury.

If Tuttle is indeed out, the Panthers will be missing two of their three opening-day starters on the defensive line—as Pro Bowler Derrick Brown is already shut down for the remainder of the campaign due to a torn meniscus. Oh, and they could possibly be down all three, as A’Shawn Robinson has been deemed questionable with a knee issue.

Carolina is currently carrying three other defensive linemen on their active roster (Nick Thurman, LaBryan Ray and Jayden Peevy) and two on their practice squad (DeShawn Williams and T.J. Smith).

Here’s the team’s final injury report for Week 3:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
DL A’Shawn Robinson Knee DNP Limited Limited Questionable
DL Shy Tuttle Foot DNP DNP DNP Doubtful
OLB Jadeveon Clowney Rest DNP Full Full –
TE Feleipe Franks Personal DNP Full Full –
G Robert Hunt Shoulder Limited Full Full –
G Damien Lewis Groin Limited Full Full –
TE Tommy Tremble Hamstring/back Limited Limited Limited –
OT Taylor Moton Rest DNP Full –
CB Lonnie Johnson Thigh Limited Limited Questionable
S Nick Scott Neck Limited Limited Questionable

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Panthers boast some of PFF’s highest-graded OLs entering Week 3

The hog mollies in Carolina have been putting in work to start the season.

Between their disappointing 0-2 start and the benching of last year’s No. 1 overall pick, the Carolina Panthers haven’t given fans much reason to smile to start the 2024 campaign. But there may just be one thing in Charlotte worth celebrating.

The hog mollies have flown under the radar in the first two weeks of the season. A major point of emphasis during the spring, the retooled offensive line is churning out some of the best numbers in the NFL thus far.

According to Pro Football Focus, it’s Austin Corbett who’s leading all players at his position in pass protection. The guard-turned-center has yet to relinquish a single pressure and currently has an 83.5 pass-blocking grade—the highest at the spot.

Robert Hunt, Corbett’s reason for his transition to the middle, has been getting some work in as well. The $100 million man is earning his huge deal to this point, ranking second amongst all guards with an 86.0 pass-blocking mark.

Fellow free-agent signee and guard Damien Lewis isn’t too shabby either, ranking 16th in the category with a 76.6 grade.

While both tackles for the Panthers fall a bit behind their interior, they have still been solid. Right tackle Taylor Moton, in particular, grades out as the 15th-best offensive tackle in pass protection (77.6).

So even though the offense as a whole has been hindered by suboptimal quarterback play, one could point to this offensive line as a reason to still have hope for the group. And with a more functional quarterback under center, perhaps the team can actually find its first win (and smiles) of the season.

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Panthers DT Shy Tuttle remains out of practice on Thursday

A foot injury has kept DT Shy Tuttle out of practice for the second consecutive day.

The Carolina Panthers probably won’t have another one of their opening-day starting defensive linemen in Week 3.

Nose tackle Shy Tuttle remained out of practice on Thursday due to a foot injury. The 28-year-old defender, who is in his second season with the Panthers, was also a non-participant for yesterday’s session.

Line mate A’Shawn Robinson, however, did return to the practice field after also sitting Wednesday out. Robinson (knee) was listed as a limited participant.

Carolina is already without Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown, who will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn meniscus.

Here is the full injury report from the afternoon:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
DL A’Shawn Robinson Knee DNP Limited
DL Shy Tuttle Foot DNP DNP
OLB Jadeveon Clowney Rest DNP Full
TE Feleipe Franks Personal DNP Full
G Robert Hunt Shoulder Limited Full
G Damien Lewis Groin Limited Full
TE Tommy Tremble Hamstring/back Limited Limited
OT Taylor Moton Rest DNP
CB Lonnie Johnson Thigh Limited
S Nick Scott Neck Limited

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Panthers hold out 3 defensive starters from Wednesday’s practice

Panthers starting defensive linemen A’Shawn Robinson and Shy Tuttle were out of practice on Wednesday due to injuries.

Taking away Pro Bowler Derrick Brown for the rest of the season seemingly may not be enough for the injury bug—as it’s now come for the rest of the Carolina Panthers’ starting defensive line.

A’Shawn Robinson (knee) and Shy Tuttle (foot) both missed Wednesday’s practice, the first ahead of the team’s Week 3 visit to see the Las Vegas Raiders. Outside of Brown, Robinson and Tuttle, the Panthers are currently carrying three other defensive linemen on their active roster (Nick Thurman, LaBryan Ray and Jayden Peevy) and two on their practice squad (DeShawn Williams and T.J. Smith).

Starting outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney was also held out. But, as was the case last Wednesday, the 11th-year veteran was just taking a rest day.

Here’s the full injury report from the session:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
DL A’Shawn Robinson Knee DNP
DL Shy Tuttle Foot DNP
OLB Jadeveon Clowney Rest DNP
TE Feleipe Franks Personal DNP
G Robert Hunt Shoulder Limited
G Damien Lewis Groin Limited
TE Tommy Tremble Hamstring/back Limited

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Panthers Week 2 inactives: 6 players ruled out vs. Chargers

All of Friday’s questionable Panthers will be in uniform for the home opener.

The questionables are questionable no more.

Friday’s injury report ahead of the Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers featured five players the Carolina Panthers deemed as questionable. But, as expected, all five will be in uniform this afternoon.

Included in the bunch is starting tight end Tommy Tremble, who is on track to make his 2024 debut today. Rookie and fourth-round pick Ja’Tavion Sanders got the start in last week’s regular-season opener in place of Tremble, who has been dealing with hamstring and back issues.

Along with Tremble, the Panthers will also have running back and return specialist Raheem Blackshear (personal), left guard Damien Lewis (groin), outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (ankle) and punter Johnny Hekker (back).

Here, however, are the six inactives for Carolina:

  • RB Mike Boone
  • TE Messiah Swinson
  • G Jarrett Kingston
  • C Andrew Raym
  • CB Shemar Bartholomew
  • CB Chau Smith-Wade

And for Los Angeles . . .

  • QB Taylor Heinicke
  • RB Kimani Vidal
  • WR Brenden Rice
  • OL Jordan McFadden
  • DL Justin Eboigbe
  • CB Tarheeb Still
  • S Alohi Gilman

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