Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Panthers still may have some work to do before reconvening for training camp later this summer.
The Carolina Panthers have been remarkably active this offseason. Yet, their work on the roster seems far from done.
Here are the three positions the teams should address before entering training camp later this month.
The Panthers need a pass rusher to step up this summer, and Marquis Haynes Sr. may be answering that call.
[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]
The Carolina Panthers are being pleasantly surprised out of a position where they need it most.
Each of ESPN’s 32 NFL Nation reporters recently picked a surprise offseason standout—one, of course, for every team. For the Panthers, David Newton went with outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr., who could bring the much-needed heat with their two-time Pro Bowler.
Newton writes:
Nobody stood out more in Carolina’s quest to find an edge rusher opposite Brian Burns than the sixth-year player. He constantly was in the face of rookie quarterback Bryce Young, who said Haynes has “been great.” Carolina still likely will add a veteran edge rusher, but what Haynes has shown coming off a season in which he had a career-high five sacks has to make coach Frank Reich & Co. more comfortable.
That career year—which also saw bests in total tackles (29), quarterback hits (13) and passes defensed (four)—may be short lived, as Haynes Sr. is a prime candidate to break out in the team’s fresh 3-4 base defense. His 6-foot-2, 235-pound frame and array of speed moves should serve him better as a standup rusher than as a traditional hand-in-the-dirt edge defender.
And if the Panthers don’t end up adding that veteran, it’ll be up to Haynes Sr.—as well as Yetur Gross-Matos and rookie DJ Johnson—to stand out as a complement to Burns.
[lawrence-related id=676519,676014,676484]
The Athletic’s Joe Person noted that there’s a sense the Panthers will sign another pass rusher before the start of the season.
[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]
The Carolina Panthers still have a lot of money and they seem like they’re afraid to use it . . . or are they?
As we head out of this year’s edition of mandatory minicamp, the Panthers are currently sitting on approximately $26.4 million of salary cap space—the second-most in the NFL. So, with a rookie quarterback contract in tow and the monetary resources readily available to build around it, what are they waiting for?
In his minicamp wrap-up, Joe Person of The Athletic writes of the team’s current need for another pass-rushing option:
If they’re good with a sixth-year player who has improved each year, then maybe pairing Marquis Haynes with Yetur Gross-Matos, who’s solid enough in setting the edge, could work.
Haynes spent most of the past two days knifing into the backfield and generally making a mess of the offense’s plans. Haynes had what might have been three sacks on [Bryce] Young, had these been actual games (and if Young had not eluded him). The 6-2, 235-pound Haynes looks thicker this year, and it could be playing in space in a 3-4 suits him better than lining up in a three-point stance.
The sense here is the Panthers will sign another edge rusher before Sept. 10, but Haynes got Young’s attention.
The free-agent market for the position got a tad thinner recently—as Leonard Floyd and Frank Clark found new homes in Buffalo and Denver, respectively. A few of the top names remaining include Yannick Ngakoue, Jadeveon Clowney and Carlos Dunlap.
[lawrence-related id=675053,675289,674837]
Panthers DE Marquis Haynes Sr. revealed that he played in Sunday’s season finale with a grade 2 MCL sprain.
With the road to the playoffs completely shut down for the Carolina Panthers as they entered Week 18, their season finale against the (also eliminated) New Orleans Saints may have been perceived as a “meaningless” one. But you can’t tell Marquis Haynes Sr. that.
On Tuesday, the fifth-year defensive end revealed that he played in the closing contest despite being diagnosed with a grade 2 MCL sprain—an injury that can take multiple weeks to heal.
Lol I played that last game with a grade 2 mcl no way I was missing the whole last game wanted to be out there with my brothers
— Marquis Haynes (@MarquisHaynes98) January 10, 2023
Haynes Sr. played through 38 snaps in the 10-7 victory, one in which he and his brothers held New Orleans scoreless on nine of their 10 drives. Those 38 plays resulted in three tackles and a pressure for the veteran pass rusher.
That valiant effort by Haynes Sr. capped off what was a career year in 2022. The 29-year-old notched highs in sacks (5.0), quarterback hits (13), total tackles (23), tackles for a loss (seven) and passes defensed (four).
He also recorded his first NFL touchdown back in Week 3 against those very Saints. Haynes Sr. scooped up a fumble, made possible by linebacker Frankie Luvu, and returned the rock to the house for a 44-yard score.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxc4awx2fz2sn9 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]
[lawrence-related id=666294,666285]
[listicle id=666170]
Jaycee Horn may not be the only key Panthers defender out for Week 17’s showdown with the Buccaneers.
The Carolina Panthers were never going to put Jaycee Horn on the field in Week 17.
On Friday, the team confirmed the upcoming absence of their standout cornerback—ruling Horn out for Sunday’s huge matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The second-year defender underwent surgery to repair his broken wrist on Tuesday and will be reevaluated some time next week to gauge his status moving forward.
The Panthers could also be without defensive end Marquis Haynes Sr., who popped up on Thursday’s injury report. The fifth-year pass rusher, who has tied a career-high of 4.0 sacks this season, is down as questionable due to an ankle issue.
Here’s the final injury report for the NFC South showdown:
| Injury | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Game status | |
| CB Jaycee Horn | Wrist | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| WR Shi Smith | Foot | Limited | Full | Full | – |
| TE Stephen Sullivan | Ankle | Full | Limited | Full | – |
| LB Shaq Thompson | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Full | – |
| TE Tommy Tremble | Hip | Limited | Limited | Full | Questionable |
| DE Marquis Haynes Sr. | Ankle | – | Limited | Questionable | |
| G Cade Mays | Knee | Limited | Questionable |
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxc4awx2fz2sn9 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]
[lawrence-related id=665177,665006]
[listicle id=665198]
Panthers LB Shaq Thompson and DE Marquis Haynes Sr. were limited during Thursday’s practice.
The Carolina Panthers are already going to be without cornerback Jaycee Horn for their huge Week 17 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Although there’s some hope for the talented second-year defender to return this season, it won’t be on Sunday.
So, it’s pretty important for the Panthers to have the rest of their defense at full strength—something they’re working towards with two key players at the moment.
For the second consecutive practice, linebacker Shaq Thompson was listed as a limited participant due to a hamstring injury. The eighth-year veteran currently leads the team with 116 combined tackles.
Joining him with the same designation was defensive end Marquis Haynes Sr., who popped up on the injury report for the first time on Thursday due to an ankle issue. But, according to team reporter Darin Gantt, Haynes Sr. was “moving well” during the early portion of the session.
Here’s the full listing for Thursday:
| Injury | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Game status | |
| CB Jaycee Horn | Wrist | DNP | DNP | ||
| WR Shi Smith | Foot | Limited | Full | ||
| TE Stephen Sullivan | Ankle | Full | Limited | ||
| LB Shaq Thompson | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | ||
| TE Tommy Tremble | Hip | Limited | Limited | ||
| DE Marquis Haynes Sr. | Ankle | – | Limited |
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxc4awx2fz2sn9 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]
[lawrence-related id=665264,665006]
[listicle id=665198]
Jaycee Horn, PFF’s highest-graded defender for the Panthers in Week 14, put the seatbelts on in Seattle.
How did Pro Football Focus sign off on the Carolina Panthers’ signature win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday?
Let’s take a look at the best and worst grades from a triumphant Week 14.
The Panthers came up with their first takeaway in six games, thanks to LB Frankie Luvu and DE Marquis Haynes Sr.
The last takeaway the Carolina Panthers created came last season, on Dec. 19, 2021 against the Buffalo Bills. Well, the drought is finally over!
At the 5:32 mark of the first quarter in their Week 3 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, the Panthers snapped that five-game skid—thanks to linebacker Frankie Luvu. Luvu, on a first-and-10 near midfield, ripped the ball out of running back Alvin Kamara’s grasp and left the pigskin up for grabs.
That pigskin would then be picked up by defensive end Marquis Haynes Sr., who proceeded to dash to the end zone for a 44-yard touchdown return. The strip, scoop and score helped give the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
"This is 6 quick"@frankluvu7 x @MarquisHaynes98 💪 pic.twitter.com/Vq3cnO4I3U
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 25, 2022
On Thursday, defensive coordinator Phil Snow gave Luvu some props—noting that the fifth-year defender is becoming more of a complete linebacker.
“Everybody said Frankie was better on the line of scrimmage, right? Rushing and doing that,” he said. “He wasn’t real good in coverage. But he’s really worked on that in the last year. We sat him down and we wanted a complete linebacker and I think he’s becoming a much better linebacker in all aspects of his game. So, hopefully, he can stay healthy. He’s gonna play a lot more snaps than he’s played in the past. So that’s his big challenge.”
Those snaps are, evidently, starting to really pay off.
[lawrence-related id=658456,658313]
[listicle id=658365]
As expected, Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey was back to work this afternoon following his rest on Wednesday.
Welcome to the new normal (again) for Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.
As expected, the team’s star rusher returned to the practice field this afternoon after his rest on Wednesday. Head coach Matt Rhule had told reporters following yesterday’s session that he plans on continuing to roll out McCaffrey as such—with an emphasis on decreasing the amount of contact he takes throughout the season.
Carolina also got back defensive end Marquis Haynes Sr., who previously sat out as well with a hip injury. The fifth-year veteran played 32 snaps in the Week 1 loss to the Cleveland Browns, amassing three tackles and one pressure.
Additionally—starting right tackle Taylor Moton and linebackers Frankie Luvu and Brandon Smith remained limited.
| Injury | Wed. | Thurs. | Fri. | Game status | |
| RB Christian McCaffrey | Rest | DNP | – | ||
| DE Marquis Haynes Sr. | Hip | DNP | Limited | ||
| LB Frankie Luvu | Shoulder | Limited | Limited | ||
| OT Taylor Moton | Knee | Limited | Limited | ||
| LB Brandon Smith | Thigh | Limited | Limited |
[lawrence-related id=657876,657862]
[listicle id=657842]
Wednesday was just a rest day for Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey.
We’ll tell you like we did last week, Carolina Panthers fans—take a breath.
Star running back Christian McCaffrey was held out of practice on Wednesday simply for rest. The approach to recovery for the sixth-year veteran, who missed 23 of 33 games between 2020 and 2021, has leaned towards taking extended breaks thus far.
After sitting out the entire preseason, McCaffrey didn’t see his usual, onerous workload in Sunday’s season opener. He totaled just 14 touches—10 rushing attempts and four receptions—for 57 yards from scrimmage in the 26-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
| Injury | Wed. | Thurs. | Fri. | Game status | |
| RB Christian McCaffrey | Rest | DNP | |||
| DE Marquis Haynes Sr. | Hip | DNP | |||
| LB Frankie Luvu | Shoulder | Limited | |||
| OT Taylor Moton | Knee | Limited | |||
| LB Brandon Smith | Thigh | Limited |
Head coach Matt Rhule also addressed the absence of receiver and returner Andre Roberts, who was placed on the injured reserve yesterday. With the 34-year-old set to miss a few months with a knee injury, Rhule said to expect wideout Shi Smith on punt returns and running back Chuba Hubbard taking up kick returns moving forward.
[pickup_prop id=”27587″]
[lawrence-related id=657837,657767]
[listicle id=657845]
