Tag: Justin Houston

Panthers Week 9 injury report: 3 players ruled out vs. Colts

The Panthers have ruled out three players from Sunday’s contest against the Colts, including OLB Justin Houston and WR Laviska Shenault Jr.

The Carolina Panthers will be even thinner at outside linebacker in Week 9.

Four-time Pro Bowler Justin Houston has been ruled out of Sunday’s contest against the Indianapolis Colts due to a hamstring injury. The 34-year-old, who sustained the setback in last weekend’s 15-13 win over the Houston Texans, has played in approximately 41 percent of the defense’s snaps this season—having recorded nine combined tackles and half a sack.

With Brian Burns still dealing with a hyperextended elbow and Yetur Gross-Matos currently on injured reserve due to a hamstring issue of his own, the Panthers will have to dig into their depth at the position once again. Burns, who is a go, could be joined by Amaré Barno as well as rookies DJ Johnson and Eku Leota.

The Panthers, who won’t have wideout Laviska Shenault Jr. or linebacker Claudin Cherelus either, are also likely to be without safety Vonn Bell—who is listed as doubtful. Bell missed the last two games due to a quadriceps injury.

Here’s the final Week 9 injury report:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
WR DJ Chark  Elbow DNP Limited Limited Questionable
LB Clauin Cherelus Knee DNP DNP DNP Out
CB Troy Hill Illness DNP Full Full –
OLB Justin Houston Hamstring DNP DNP DNP Out
TE Hayden Hurst Illness DNP Full Full –
OT Taylor Moton Knee/rest DNP Limited Full –
WR Laviska Shenault Jr. Ankle DNP DNP DNP Out
WR Adam Thielen Rest DNP – – –
S Vonn Bell Quadriceps Limited Limited Limited Doubtful
OLB Brian Burns Elbow Limited Limited Full –
G Austin Corbett Knee Limited Limited Full –
LB Frankie Luvu Hip Limited Limited Full –
LB Chandler Wooten Hamstring Limited Limited Full –
RB Raheem Blackshear Groin Limited Full Full –
S Xavier Woods Abdomen – Limited Full –
G Cade Mays Ankle – Full Full –
CB Donte Jackson Quadriceps – – Full Questionable
S Alex Cook Shoulder – – Full –
RB Miles Sanders Calf – – Full –

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Panthers get 5 players back to practice on Thursday

Thursday’s injury report came out a bit cleaner for the Panthers.

As expected, the Carolina Panthers’ injury report from Thursday looked a lot cleaner than the one from Wednesday.

After holding out eight players from yesterday’s session, the Panthers got a handful of their men back this afternoon—including wideout DJ Chark, tight end Hayden Hurst, right tackle Taylor Moton and cornerback Troy Hill.

Among those still out were were receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., who sustained an ankle injury against the Miami Dolphins in Week 6, and outside linebacker Justin Houston, who is dealing with a hamstring issue.

Here is Thursday’s injury report in full:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
WR DJ Chark  Elbow DNP Limited
LB Clauin Cherelus Knee DNP DNP
CB Troy Hill Illness DNP Full
OLB Justin Houston Hamstring DNP DNP
TE Hayden Hurst Illness DNP Full
OT Taylor Moton Knee/rest DNP Limited
WR Laviska Shenault Jr. Ankle DNP DNP
WR Adam Thielen Rest DNP –
S Vonn Bell Quadriceps Limited Limited
OLB Brian Burns Elbow Limited Limited
G Austin Corbett Knee Limited Limited
LB Frankie Luvu Hip Limited Limited
LB Chandler Wooten Hamstring Limited Limited
RB Raheem Blackshear Groin Limited Full
S Xavier Woods Abdomen – Limited
G Cade Mays Ankle – Full

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8 players the Vikings should trade for at the trade deadline

The Vikings could end up being buyers at the trade deadline and there are plenty of targets that could help them this season and beyond

The Minnesota Vikings not only saved their season by winning against the San Francisco 49ers 22-17 on Monday night, but they arguably changed their strategy at the trade deadline.

After a 1-4 start, the Vikings were rumored to trade multiple players, most notably Danielle Hunter. In the last year of his contract, it’s easy to see why the Vikings might be willing to trade him, but they aren’t the kind of team to just sell off parts when they have a chance to make a run.

This season, the Vikings have played better than their record indicates. They are 16th in overall DVOA while being 14th on offense and 15th on defense. That’s a massive improvement over last season and you can see i in the on field product.

The Vikings make an aggressive move last year in acquiring T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline with the idea of signing him to be a pillar of the Vikings’ future. Could they try that again this season? There are players available that fit the bill, along with others that would be inexpensive one year rentals

The team really has only one area they need is up front on defense. The defensive line is undermanned and the pass rush needs depth with Marcus Davenport being unreliable so far this season.

Even with Hunter on the team, he can’t rush the passer by himself. Getting him a long-term running mate or replacing him long-term needs to be a priority and there are options in the trade market to do just that.

Who could the Vikings target at the trade deadline to bolster their team for the rest of the season and beyond? We identified eight players the Vikings could potentially make a move for.

Justin Houston active in Week 3 vs. Seahawks

As expected, Panthers OLB Justin Houston is not the list of inactives against the Seahawks.

If we choose to overlook the most important position on the field, the Carolina Panthers have a pretty good attendance record this afternoon.

As expected, outside linebacker Justin Houston is active for Sunday’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. The four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report.

Joining Houston will be joined by fellow outside linebackers Brian Burns and Amaré Barno as well as running back Miles Sanders—all of whom were not listed with game designations on Friday.

Not joining Houston is, obviously, quarterback Bryce Young. Young, who sustained an ankle injury in last Monday night’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, has already been ruled out.

13th-year veteran Andy Dalton, who is set to make his first start for the Panthers, will take his place. Jake Luton, a call-up from the practice squad, will be Dalton’s backup.

Additionally, per Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. Calvin Throckmorton will get the starting nod over Cade Mays at right guard.

Here is Carolina’s full list of inactives for the contest:

  • RB Raheem Blackshear
  • OLB DJ Johnson
  • OT David Sharpe
  • S Jammie Robinson
  • CB Sam Webb
  • CB Bryce Young

And for the Seahawks:

  • S Jamal Adams
  • CB Coby Bryant
  • OT Charles Cross
  • OT McClendon Curtis
  • TE Will Dissly
  • G Phil Haynes
  • CB Riq Woolen

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Top takeaways from Panthers’ snap counts in Week 1 loss to Falcons

We may have gotten a few early answers as to how the Panthers will run their show in 2023.

With an almost entirely new coach staff, the Carolina Panthers raised quite a few questions as to how they’d line up here in 2023. And on Sunday, in the team’s season-opening loss to the Atlanta Falcons, we got our first real answers.

Here are the top takeaways from the Week 1 snap counts:

Justin Houston: The league is sleeping on us

Justin Houston believes the Panthers are primed to surprise the entire NFL in 2023.

Justin Houston didn’t join the Carolina Panthers for kicks.

The 13th-year veteran spoke to reporters following Thursday’s practice. When asked about his defense, Houston said he believes the unit—and the rest of the team, for that matter—is primed to pounce.

“I think we gon’ surprise a lot of people,” he said. “The league is sleepin’ on us as a whole. I think we got a lot of talent here. So the biggest thing is puttin’ this talent together. A lot of teams have talent, but it’s hard to get everybody on the same page. I think these guys are willing to work and do whatever it takes to be on the same page and I think we’re headin’ towards the right direction.”

Houston signed a one-year, $7 million pact with the Panthers in early August. So he’ll be bringing his experience and, most importantly, four Pro Bowls’ worth of heat to a group that very much needed it.

The 34-year-old is also bringing fellow edge defender Brian Burns the chance to prowl as part of a potent pass-rushing duo. And Houston believes he and Burns will end up being the league’s top sack tandem.

“By far, we will be,” he replied. “The power of the tongue speaks life or death and I’m speakin’ life over us.”

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Justin Houston on Bryce Young: ‘This organization is in great hands’

Justin Houston, who’s quite familiar with quarterbacks, believes the Panthers have a keeper in Bryce Young.

Justin Houston may be new to the Carolina Panthers, but he’s not new to quarterbacks—whether he’s playing with them or taking them down. And he believes his new team has themselves a keeper at the position.

Following Friday night’s preseason loss to the New York Giants, Houston—per MMQB senior NFL reporter Albert Breer—said the following of rookie Bryce Young:

This isn’t the first time a decorated NFL veteran used those very words about the 2023 No. 1 overall pick. Four-time Most Valuable Player and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, in fact, beat Houston to the punch back in training camp.

“I like the kid a lot,” Rodgers told reporters a week and a half ago. “We share an agent. So I’ve known him for a long time. I love watching him in college. I like his demeanor, I like his movement, I like the way he throws.

“I trust a guy like Adam [Thielen]. Him and I have been buddies for a long time, and he just raves about him. So, I think Carolina is in good hands.”

Young finished his second preseason start of the summer having completed three of his six throws for 35 yards. So while the numbers aren’t exactly there—even for exhibition play—the poise and the acclaim certainly are.

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12 Panthers not expected to play in preseason opener vs. Jets

Brian Burns, Justin Houston and Miles Sanders are amongst the 12 Panthers who are not expected to play in today’s preseason opener against the Jets.

As reported by Darin Gantt of Panthers.com about an hour and a half before kickoff of this afternoon’s preseason opener against the New York Jets, the Carolina Panthers are expected to hold 12 players out of action on Saturday. The list is as follows:

  • OLB Brian Burns
  • WR Damieye Byrd
  • G Austin Corbett
  • OLB Marquis Haynes Sr.
  • OLB Justin Houston
  • G Nash Jensen
  • CB Mac McCain III
  • K Eddy Piñeiro
  • RB Miles Sanders
  • TE Stephen Sullivan
  • OLB Jordan Thomas
  • G Chandler Zavala

The most notable of the bunch include the projected starting edge rushers in Burns and Houston. Both are, apparently, being eased in—with the former coming off ankle surgery and the latter just joining the team this past week.

As expected Sanders, will also stay on the sideline for this outing. Sanders, per head coach Frank Reich, sustained a tweak to his groin and will be held out for precautionary reasons.

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Justin Houston ranked 5th in this telling stat during 2022 season

The Panthers had trouble bringing the pressure in 2022. Justin Houston did not.

The new union between the Carolina Panthers and outside linebacker Justin Houston has been all about the numbers.

A productive 34-year-old four-time Pro Bowler was signed to a chunky one-year, $7 million deal (with $6 million in guarantees) to help a defense with one proven pass rusher and just 35 sacks—the seventh-fewest—in 2022. Oh, and Houston even worked over fellow backer Chandler Wooten to get his No. 50 uniform.

And in case those numbers weren’t enough for ya, here’s another . . .

This past season, even in his 12th NFL campaign at 33 years of age, Houston ranked fifth in pressure percentage—which measures how many pressures a player records per snap. His 12.5-percent mark only sat behind the likes of San Francisco’s Nick Bosa (12.7 percent), Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson (13.8 percent), Buffalo’s Von Miller (14.5 percent) and Dallas’ Micah Parsons (17.4 percent).

Houston, per Pro Football Focus, collected a total of 39 pressures over 285 pass-rushing attempts. And of those 39, he got home for 9.5 sacks—which ranked 20th.

So, being that the Panthers were 26th in team pressure percentage, they’re hoping all of Houston’s numbers will add up in 2023.

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Brian Burns on Justin Houston: He’s given me a lot of knowledge

Panthers OLB Brian Burns on Justin Houston: He’s only been here a day and he’s given me a lot of knowledge

Justin Houston has been an official member of the Carolina Panthers for a grand total of two practices. Yet, he’s already paying off on that one-year, $7 million pact.

Panthers outside linebacker Brian Burns spoke to reporters following Wednesday’s joint practice with the visiting New York Jets. When asked about the importance of having a proven pass rusher in Houston by his side, the 25-year-old said it’s already making a mark on him.

“It’ll help,” Burns replied. “He’s a veteran—a super vet. Got a lot of experience. I think he’s going on what? Year 13? He’s only been here a day and he’s given me a lot of knowledge . . . just on some things I haven’t even thought about. It’s nice when you can talk rush and bounce ideas off each other. So, it’s cool.”

Houston will be more than just a teacher, too. The four-time Pro Bowler, who racked up 9.5 sacks at 33 years of age in 2022, was brought on to give Burns a certified partner off the edge.

And even at 34 years old, Houston probably has a lot more left to give Burns and the Panthers—from inside and outside the lines.

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