Tag: Giovanni Ricci

Panthers Week 1 injury report: RB Christian McCaffrey will start vs. Browns

Christian McCaffrey is a go for the Panthers on Sunday. (We told you not to worry.)

After popping up on yesterday’s injury report with a nick to his shin, Carolina Panthers running back McCaffrey was not listed with a game status on Friday’s release. That, of course, means the star rusher is a go for Sunday’s season opener against the Cleveland Browns.

McCaffrey’s injury was never of any concern to the team, as it was—again—just a cut as a result of contact with a cleat. But given the sixth-year veteran’s recent history, the alarms went off on Thursday with his mere mention.

In another bit of encouraging news, kicker Eddy Piñeiro was a full participant. Carolina, nonetheless, signed Taylor Bertolet to the practice squad as insurance.

Additionally, rookie linebacker Brandon Smith was added with a thigh issue and head coach Matt Rhule told reporters that Pat Elflein will start at center as Bradley Bozeman continues to heal from his ankle injury.

Here’s the full report heading into Sunday:

Injury Wed. Thurs. Fri. Game status
K Eddy Piñeiro Hip Full Full Full –
FB Giovanni Ricci Hip Limited Limited Full –
RB Christian McCaffrey Shin – Full Full –
LB Brandon Smith Thigh – – Limited Questionable

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Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey listed on Thursday’s injury report

Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey was added to the Week 1 injury report. But take a deep breath, folks. He’s okay.

The Carolina Panthers experienced some bad déjà vu yesterday, when new kicker Eddy Piñeiro—who was replacing their usual kicker Zane Gonzalez—popped up on the first injury report of the regular season. And if that’s bad déjà vu, then what do you consider Christian McCaffrey already hitting the list?

On Thursday, the team’s star running back was added to the report. But take a deep breath, Panthers fans and McCaffrey fantasy owners alike—he’s fine.

McCaffrey was marked as a full participant with a shin issue. Head coach Matt Rhule would later tell reporters that the sixth-year rusher only sustained a cut on said shin after being hit by a cleat.

Phew . . .

Injury Wed. Thurs. Fri. Game status
K Eddy Piñeiro Hip Full Full
FB Giovanni Ricci Hip Limited Limited
RB Christian McCaffrey Shin – Full

As for Piñeiro, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said earlier in the day that he has no concerns over his kicker’s status for Sunday’s season opener.

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Panthers K Eddy Piñeiro dealing with hip injury on Wednesday

Although light, the Panthers’ first injury report of the 2022 regular season may be giving the team some bad déjà vu.

The very first injury report of the 2022 regular season is now out for the Carolina Panthers. And even though it’s something new, they may be facing a familiar problem.

New kicker Eddy Piñeiro was one of the two players listed on Wednesday, as the 26-year-old was dealing with a hip injury. He was, however, a full participant during practice.

Injury Wed. Thurs. Fri. Game status
K Eddy Piñeiro Hip Full
FB Giovanni Ricci Hip Limited

Head coach Matt Rhule, despite bringing up the possibility of looking into another kicker ahead of their Week 1 matchup with the Cleveland Browns, told reporters that he isn’t extremely worried at the moment.

“Came in, got treatment on it,” Rhule said of Piñeiro’s hip. “He kicked today, so nothing so far that would make me concerned. Ya know, obviously, any time your kicker reports anything, it makes you a little bit reticent. But nothing that’s a major concern yet.”

This news should make the Panthers at least a tad bothered, especially given their recent history at the position. Piñeiro signed on last week, following the season-ending groin injury to Zane Gonzalez.

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Panthers Week 7 injury report: Brady Christensen may start at LT

If Cameron Erving can’t go, the Panthers are prepared to give rookie Brady Christensen a much-anticipated start at LT.

Another week, another change on the offensive line for the Carolina Panthers? Possibly.

The broader contingent of the team faithful may be getting their wish again, as head coach Matt Rhule said on Friday that rookie Brady Christensen could be in line to start at left tackle for Week 7. Usual starter Cameron Erving, who was listed with a neck injury on Thursday, was absent today with an illness and is questionable for the matchup against the New York Giants.

Here’s the full report heading into the weekend:

Injury Wed. Thurs. Fri. Game status
CB C.J. Henderson Shoulder Full Full Full –
LB Frankie Luvu Biceps Limited Limited Full –
WR Alex Erickson Concussion DNP Limited Limited Questionable
WR Terrace Marshall Jr. Concussion DNP DNP DNP Out
LB Shaq Thompson Foot DNP DNP DNP Out
FB Giovanni Ricci Concussion DNP DNP DNP Out
OT Cameron Erving Neck, Illness – Limited DNP Questionable
C Matt Paradis Knee – Full Full –

As expected, linebacker Shaq Thompson will miss his third straight game with the plantar fascia issue. Rookie wideout Terrace Marshall Jr. and fullback Giovanni Ricci have also been ruled out.

Conversely, cornerback C.J. Henderson, center Matt Paradis and linebacker Frankie Luvu are all cleared without any game designations.

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Panthers injury updates: LB Shaq Thompson ‘very doubtful’ for Week 7

The Panthers likely won’t be getting back LB Shaq Thompson or LG Pat Elflein for Week 7.

The recovery of Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson was always going to be a process. That process will like continue here through Week 7.

On Wednesday, head coach Matt Rhule all but shot down the possibility of getting one of his defensive leaders back against the New York Giants, stating Thompson is “very doubtful” for this Sunday. He has missed the past two games with a strained plantar fascia.

Tuesday’s six-player workout in Carolina included a pair of linebackers, Anthony Hines and Erroll Thompson. That could, perhaps, indicate the team is looking for some much needed depth in Thompson’s absence for the time being.

Left guard Pat Elflein also likely won’t be ready, as alluded to by Rhule. Rhule told reporters that Elflein suffered a setback “in the weight room” while on the comeback from his hamstring injury. That would, in turn, give Michael Jordan his first start for the Panthers this week.

Here’s how the official injury report returned on the day:

Injury Wed. Thurs. Fri. Game status
CB C.J. Henderson Shoulder Full
LB Frankie Luvu Biceps Limited
WR Alex Erickson Concussion DNP
WR Terrace Marshall Jr. Concussion DNP
LB Shaq Thompson Foot DNP
FB Giovanni Ricci Concussion DNP

Additionally, a fresh stint on the injured reserve for Brandon Zylstra, coupled with the concussions sustained by Terrace Marshall Jr. and Alex Erickson, could leave the offense quite short at the receiver position. That left the Panthers with just three wideouts on the practice field for Wednesday—DJ Moore, Robby Anderson and Shi Smith.

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Panthers finalize initial 2021 53-man roster

A summer’s worth of evaluations and a few days’ worth of departures has left us with this, the initial 53-man roster of the 2021 Carolina Panthers.

Just 15 minutes before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET, the Carolina Panthers made their final move to reach the 53-man roster limit. That casualty comes at the expense of running back Rodney Smith, who the team has now waived.

So, after a summer’s worth of evaluations and a few days’ worth of cuts, here were are. This is the Panthers’ initial 53-man roster heading into the 2021 regular season:

Quarterbacks (2): Sam Darnold, P.J. Walker

Running backs (3): Christian McCaffrey, Chuba Hubbard, Trenton Cannon

Fullback (1): Giovanni Ricci

Wide receivers (6)  : DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall Jr., David Moore, Brandon Zylstra, Shi Smith

Tight ends (4): Dan Arnold, Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble, Colin Thompson

Offensive line (9): Cameron Erving, Pat Elflein, Matt Paradis, John Miller, Taylor Moton, Trent Scott, Dennis Daley, Brady Christensen, Deonte Brown

Defensive line (10): Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, DaQuan Jones, Morgan Fox, Yetur Gross-Matos, Marquis Haynes, Darryl Johnson, Daviyon Nixon, Bravvion Roy, Phil Hoskins

Linebackers (6):Shaq Thompson, Jermaine Carter Jr., Haason Reddick, Frankie Luvu, Julian Stanford, Clay Johnston

Defensive backs (9): Donte Jackson, Jaycee Horn, Jeremy Chinn, Juston Burris, Keith Taylor, Myles Hartsfield, Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, Sam Franklin, Sean Chandler

Specialists (3): Ryan Santoso, Joseph Charlton, J.J. Jansen

Obviously, the roster is subject to change leading up to their Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets. There will be plenty of players who were let go elsewhere that may pique the braintrust’s interest.

But until then, these are your first 53, Carolina.

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Carolina Panthers 53-man roster projection: Final cuts edition

Who’s staying in and who’s going out? Here are our projections for the Panthers’ initial 53-man roster.

Bloody Tuesday is upon us and the Carolina Panthers have some cleaning up to do. So who stays and who goes as they cut down their personnel before that 4 p.m. ET deadline in a few days?

Here are our projections for the team’s initial 53-man roster for the 2021 regular season.