Tag: Dave Canales

Panthers HC Dave Canales speaks on recently-released player providing intel to Cardinals for Week 16 matchup

Dave Canales on the Cardinals rostering recently-waived Panthers S Jammie Robinson in Week 16: “It’s an advantage for them.”

The Carolina Panthers may have provided the Arizona Cardinals with a not-so-secret weapon ahead of their Week 16 showdown.

On Friday, the Panthers waived safety Jammie Robinson—a fifth-round pick back from the 2023 draft. Then, on Monday, the second-year defender was successfully claimed off waivers by the Cardinals—Carolina’s opponent for this weekend.

Perhaps Arizona needed some help at the back of the defense, but Robinson’s addition probably isn’t a coincidence. The 23-year-old, who has spent nearly two seasons under Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, will likely be squeezed for some inside information on his now-former unit.

Head coach Dave Canales was asked if his defense will have to change up their methods of communication to counter any damaging intel.

“We’re not gonna change what we do. The communication happens so fast,” Canales replied. “But it’s an advantage for them. They got a player that’s been with us, who was into what we were doing, worked hard, poured his heart and soul into it.

“So, that’s something that we’re aware of. But again, we just have to make sure that we operate quickly to minimize their opportunity to see some of those things.”

Robinson appeared in 21 games for the Panthers over the last two seasons. 75 of his 441 career snaps (17.0 percent) have come on defense.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales talks about Bryce Young’s fumbles

Panthers HC Dave Canales: “If you have the ball, you’re holding it for the whole team.”

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was in ball-out mode this past weekend against the Dallas Cowboys. (Oh, wait . . . that should read “ball-is-out” mode.)

After a string of solid showings since returning to the starting lineup in Week 8, Young coughed it up in Week 15, literally. Sunday’s 30-14 loss featured four turnovers from the second-year passer, who threw two picks and lost two fumbles.

Young, following the disappointing defeat, told reporters that he did not have issues with gripping the pigskin.

So if that wasn’t the case, how can he practice better ball security moving forward?

Head coach Dave Canales was asked that on Wednesday.

“Just the reinforcement,” Canales replied. “Every play is important. And particularly, as you start to extend plays and defenders are looking for those opportunities to know when those things happen. You’re going to the ground, it’s a vulnerable spot, we gotta cover it up with two hands going down. When you’re in the pocket, keep two hands on it.

“It’s all across the board. We talk about the ball, first and foremost, as a team. And yes, we talk to each ball carrier—whoever that is. If you have the ball, you’re holding it for the whole team.”

The four giveaways were a career-high for Young.

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Panthers ILB Trevin Wallace likely to undergo shoulder surgery

Panthers HC Dave Canales said he believes rookie ILB Trevin Wallace is headed for surgery on his shoulder.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Trevin Wallace is likely going under the knife.

The rookie had his first NFL campaign officially cut short on Tuesday, when the Panthers placed their 2024 third-round pick on injured reserve with only three games left in the season. Wallace, who missed this past Sunday’s 30-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, has been sidelined with a shoulder injury.

After Wednesday’s practice, head coach Dave Canales was asked if shutting Wallace down was more of a precautionary measure or an indication of something a tad more serious.

“Yeah, I think it’s something that has to be addressed,” Canales replied. “There’s a couple of things going on. So we all thought it was the right thing to make sure we got ahead of that.”

Canales also told reporters that he believes Wallace will undergo surgery.

Wallace appeared in 13 games in 2024. He recorded 64 total tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales is asked about Heisman winner Travis Hunter and his 2-way prospects in the NFL

Panthers HC Dave Canales on Travis Hunter’s two-way abilities in the NFL: ‘A good problem to talk through for any team to get a player of that caliber.’

The Carolina Panthers could certainly use another talented wide receiver heading into 2025. They could also use another lockdown cornerback.

But what if they could get both this offseason, and in just one player?

While cleaning up Sunday’s 30-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday afternoon, head coach Dave Canales gave his thoughts on Saturday night’s star—University of Colorado standout Travis Hunter. Hunter, who plays both wide receiver and cornerback for the Buffaloes, was named this year’s winner of the Heisman Trophy.

Canales was asked about the potential of Hunter continuing his two-way ways into the pros.

“I think about Deion Sanders,” he replied. “He had his way to do it. Coach Prime. And so, he’s kinda right there with somebody who can mentor him through some of that.

“And I think it would be a challenge. I think it would be a good challenge, a good problem to talk through for any team to get a player of that caliber.”

Canales’ 3-11 Panthers may very well be that team. Entering tonight’s doubleheader, which features the 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina is currently in the fifth overall position of the 2025 NFL draft.

Hunter, who could be selected behind at least one of two quarterbacks (including his own), should be projected to go anywhere from the first overall pick to the third.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales on abandoning the run in Week 15 loss to Cowboys: ‘I don’t regret that at all’

The Panthers called just three designed runs in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys. HC Dave Canales explained why.

Some, or maybe many, would argue that the Carolina Panthers put their offense on a platter for the Dallas Cowboys defense in Week 15. In fact, the very best member of that Dallas Cowboys defense stated exactly that on Sunday.

All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons broke down his unit’s dominance from yesterday’s 30-14 win over the Panthers—one where they held their opposition to just 235 total yards while recording six sacks and four takeaways. He told reporters after the game that Carolina’s pass-heavy approach allowed him and his teammates to tee off.

“They felt like they had to put some points on the board and had to get after it and get way from the run, because it wasn’t hitting early on,” Parsons said. “It allowed us to be able to get after the quarterback. That’s what complimentary football does. With our offensive playing that well and putting together consistent drives puts pressure on them and they had to get away from their game plan.”

The six sacks stood as a season-worst for the Panthers offense, as did the four turnovers (two interceptions and two fumbles) from quarterback Bryce Young. Sunday’s second half, which started with the team down 10-7, saw head coach and offensive play-caller Dave Canales dial up 26 designed passes to just three runs.

Canales was asked about his choice to abandon the run on Monday.

“I wrestled with it,” he replied. “And I just felt the whole flow of it. I felt the success that the Cowboys were having, too, on the other side. And I felt like the accumulation of the last couple of weeks and our ability to find success in the pass game. So I felt that we would have a chance to be balanced that way and to try to get a few more first downs.

“But with the turnovers and then the points and then all of a sudden, we come out in the second half, we take a sack and fumble right off the bat and it was like the score put us in a situation where—I’m always for competing and I think you would ask any of our players, they want us to go, they wanna be aggressive and say, ‘Okay, well let’s just get after it and try to attack these guys to work ourselves back into the game.’ So I don’t regret that at all.”

Running back Chuba Hubbard, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career last week, recorded just 10 carries for 32 yards in the defeat.

The Cowboys entered Week 15 with the third-worst run defense in the NFL.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales provides injury update on WR Xavier Legette

Panthers WR Xavier Legette injured his groin in yesterday’s loss to the Cowboys. Here’s the latest on the rookie’s status:

The Carolina Panthers may be without their 2024 first-round pick for the final stretch of the season.

Wide receiver Xavier Legette exited yesterday’s 30-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys due to a groin injury. Head coach Dave Canales was asked about the rookie’s status on Monday afternoon.

“He’s week-to-week right now,” Canales replied. “I think that we’re still doing all the workup on that for him right now. We’ll give you a better picture of that in the next couple of days. But right now, we see him as week-to-week, and I’d love for him to have the chance to finish strong with us.”

Canales also stated that Legette is likely out for the Week 16 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Legette, in addition, alluded to a wrist injury he’s been dealing with following last week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He told reporters this past Thursday that he’s likely to undergo offseason surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left wrist.

The 23-year-old has reeled in two of his three targets for seven yards in the defeat in Week 15. Through 14 games, he’s totaled 41 catches for 439 receiving yards and a team-leading four touchdown receptions.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales is asked if Bryce Young will continue as starting QB after rough Week 15 outing

Panthers QB Bryce Young didn’t have a very good day against the Cowboys. So, HC Dave Canales was asked if Young will remain the starter for Week 16.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young just had his worst outing since returning to the starting lineup back in Week 8. But it wasn’t bad enough to put his job in danger.

Sunday afternoon saw Young commit a career-high four turnovers in Carolina’s disappointing 30-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The former No. 1 overall pick completed 19 of his 28 throws for 219 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while coughing up a pair of fumbles.

After the game,  ESPN’s David Newton asked head coach Dave Canales if Young will remain the starting quarterback for next week’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.

“Yeah,” Canales replied without hesitation. “Bryce will play next week. Yup.”

Young and the Panthers, despite three consecutive losses, were riding into Week 15 relatively smoothly. They fell just short in a trio of near-upsets to the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles and came into their contest against the Cowboys as the betting favorites.

That contest, however, was far from competitive—as the Panthers were thoroughly outgained by the Cowboys, 410 yards to 235. Young also ate six sacks on the afternoon, the most he’s taken all season.

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Report: ‘The Teppers are letting the football people do the football things’

Report: Panthers owners David and Nicole Tepper are “showing confidence in general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales.”

The change may very well be real for the Carolina Panthers.

Tomorrow’s matchup against last year’s NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys will kick off with the Panthers as the betting favorites, the first such instance for the team since the 2022 campaign. There are a few important factors to attribute that standing to—including a No. 1 overall pick who is actually playing like a No. 1 overall pick and a head coach whose game plan and vision have made a positive impact on the locker room.

There may, however, be another person or two to credit.

Dianna Russini, senior NFL insider for The Athletic, highlighted the organization’s recent turnaround in her newest column from Saturday morning. She notes that owners David and Nicole Tepper are “letting the football people do the football things.”

Russini writes:

Carolina Panthers owners David and Nicole Tepper strongly believe they have the right leaders in place. The owners are sticking with their vision for the future, showing confidence in general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales. Both will be back next season, and it’s easy to see why — ownership is thrilled by the steady growth of second-year quarterback Bryce Young, who’s starting to show off his special qualities. Tepper has a high standard, and losing close games to good opponents still isn’t good enough, but this team is trending in a different direction than it was just two months ago.

The Teppers, particularly David, have received some criticism in the past for being a bit too hands-on with the football side of the operation.

Whether or not that’s fair, the results haven’t been kind to the billionaire businessman—who has cycled through four different full-time head coaches and 10 different starting quarterbacks in his seven years as owner. Those seven years, in addition, have failed to yield a single winning season.

But even at 3-10 as we enter Week 15, this losing record feels very different.

As Russini also wrote, the Panthers are “no longer beating themselves with costly mistakes” and have been remarkably competitive of late. Carolina—in their last three outings—nearly pulled off impressive upsets of the 12-1 Kansas City Chiefs, the 7-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 11-2 Philadelphia Eagles.

So while the wins still have to come, the outlook for the Panthers certainly feels the brightest it has in quite some time.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales provides injury update on RB Miles Sanders

Panthers HC Dave Canales was asked about RB Miles Sanders, who has missed the last three games with an ankle sprain.

We may have seen the last of Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders this season.

With rookie rusher Jonathon Brooks now out for the remainder of the campaign after re-tearing the ACL in his right knee, the offense has been forced to look for a No. 2 behind workhorse Chuba Hubbard. For now, it’ll likely be seventh-year veteran Mike Boone—who is expected to be called up from the practice squad for Sunday’s contest against the Dallas Cowboys.

But what about this year’s original No. 2?

Head coach Dave Canales was asked about Sanders’ status on Friday . . .

Sanders went down with the ankle injury in Carolina’s Week 10 win over the New York Giants in Munich, Germany. He is currently on the injured reserve list.

Prior to the sprain, Sanders rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown on 38 attempts. His 2024 average of 3.7 yards per carry currently stands as the second-lowest of his career.

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Are Cowboys fans about to ‘take over’ Bank of America Stadium in Week 15?

According to Vivid Seats, more than half of the crowd at Bank America Stadium on Sunday will be made up of Cowboys fans.

The NFL’s biggest traveling circus is set to hit Charlotte this weekend.

According to Vivid Seats, Dallas Cowboys fans are expected to “take over” Bank of America Stadium for their team’s Week 15 visit to play the Carolina Panthers. The site’s projection tool, “Fan Forecast,” is predicting that 56 percent of Sunday’s crowd will be there for “America’s Team.”

That certainly seemed to be the case in 2023, when Cowboys fans traveled rather well for the Week 11 matchup. Then-head coach Frank Reich even admitted to using simulated crowd noise in the practices leading up to the game last season.

But is the plan the same for the current head coach, Dave Canales?

“Well, we practice with the noise ’cause we know people love to come to Charlotte,” Canales said on Wednesday when asked about the expected invasion. “Whatever team we seem to play . . . there was a lot of red when the [Kansas City] Chiefs came here.

“So we keep the noise going regularly just to kind of deal with potential noise in different situations. We haven’t had critical issues like being in a true road game, but there is a little bit extra.”

Vivid Seats also notes that this game is trending as fifth-hottest ticket in the NFL this week, with the average ticket price at $236.

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