Tag: Panthers injuries

Panthers injury udpates: CB A.J. Bouye, DE Austin Larkin

The worst of them could be veteran cornerback A.J. Bouye’s.

The Panthers are roughly halfway through their 2021 training camp schedule. They had been relatively lucky with injuries most of this offseason, but this week that luck took a turn. Beginning with Keith Kirkwood’s concussion at the hands of J.T. Ibe’s dangerous hit, Carolina has suffered several injuries the last few days.

The worst of them could be veteran cornerback A.J. Bouye’s, who’s expected to miss a couple weeks with a soft tissue problem, per coach Matt Rhule.

With Bouye sidelined, Myles Hartsfield has been lining up in the slot. Whether he’s fully recovered or not, Bouye will miss the first two games of the season due to a PED suspension.

In related news, during Thursday’s practice defensive end Austin Larkin was carted off the field and did not return. Rhule told reporters afterwards his injury is to the groin area.

Linebacker Denzel Perryman and running back Darius Clark remain sidelined.

[lawrence-related id=638884,638855]

[vertical-gallery id=638889]

Panthers injury updates: CB A.J. Bouye ‘pulled something’

The Panthers have gone relatively unscathed through their offseason program when it comes to injuries.

The Panthers have gone relatively unscathed through their offseason program when it comes to injuries. A few players have been in and out of practice, but there’s been no real significant harm so far. Hopefully that’s still the case. However, there was one notable issue at today’s practice.

Veteran cornerback A.J. Bouye went down at one point and had to be looked at by trainers. He was escorted to the medical tent and did not return to practice. Afterwards, coach Matt Rhule told reporters that Bouye “pulled something,” but didn’t offer any more details than that.

Bouye has been playing the nickel corner role for the Panthers despite having spent his entire NFL career to this point lining up outside. He will be suspended for the first two games of the season due to a 2020 PED violation, so they’ll have to tinker their rotation in Weeks 1-2 in any case.

As to who might take his place, Darin Gantt says Myles Hartsfield took over in the slot when Bouye left the field. Hartsfield has proven to be an extremely versatile undrafted defender for Carolina – he’s also put in time at safety and running back.

[lawrence-related id=638709]

[vertical-gallery id=638605]

Panthers place one player on PUP, another on COVID/reserve list

The Carolina Panthers will begin 2021 training camp a couple of players short.

The Carolina Panthers will begin 2021 training camp a couple of players short.

According to a release on the team website, outside linebacker Frankie Luvu has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Like starting quarterback Sam Darnold, Luvu spent the first three seasons of his career with the Jets. In 40 games he’s posted six sacks and 16 quarterback hits in a rotational role. He signed a one-year deal with the Panthers in March.

The Panthers also announced that safety Lano Hill has been placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to begin camp. Hill comes to Carolina by way of Seattle, where he was a third-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft. Hill has only started six games since, but he is one of the candidates to take over at free safety in the absence of Tre Boston.

Everyone else is expected to report tomorrow morning when the first practice begins.

[lawrence-related id=638477]

[vertical-gallery id=638448]

Panthers coach Matt Rhule: Brian Burns, Jeremy Chinn both had ‘surgical cleanups’

These are arguably the two most important defensive pieces that the Panthers have on the roster right now.

Several Carolina Panthers players were wearing red no-contact jerseys at today’s OTA practice. All participated in some form, though.

Among the long list of names that were in red today include defensive end Brian Burns and hybrid Jeremy Chinn. Apparently, both had offseason surgery. Head coach Matt Rhule shared that news in his post-practice press conference. Burns underwent a procedure on his shoulder, but there’s no specifics for Chinn as of yet.

These are arguably the two most important defensive pieces that the Panthers have on the roster right now.

Burns largely flew under the radar but played about as well as any edge defender in the NFL outside of T.J. Watt. Meanwhile, Chinn looked as impressive as any first-year defensive player not named Chase Young. Carolina will need both healthy once the games begin. Fortunately, there’s still a lot of time for these two and the other players in red to fully recover from whatever their offseason issues are.

[lawrence-related id=637002]

[vertical-gallery id=636874]

Panthers place second-year OT Greg Little on injured reserve

Little has played in 10 games this season, including three starts.

Through no fault of their own, some athletes just don’t have any luck when it comes to injuries. It appears Panthers offensive tackle Greg Little might be one of them. The team just announced that Little has been placed on the injured reserve list with an ankle injury.

Little has played in 10 games this season, including three starts. He was on the field for 16% of the team’s offensive snaps, even lower than his rookie year when it was 20%. In 2019 Little was limited by concussions and ankle issues, as well.

Little going on IR is just the latest example of the troubles Carolina has had at left tackle. Starter Russell Okung has also missed a lot of time due to injuries this season, playing in just seven of the team’s 13 games. Okung is expected to miss Saturday’s game against the Packers, as well.

For the time being, Trent Scott will start.

[lawrence-related id=631816]

[vertical-gallery id=631819]

Panthers coach Matt Rhule says X-rays on WR D.J. Moore’s ankle were negative

However, coach Matt Rhule says that X-rays on Moore’s ankle were negative.

In addition to a heartbreaking one-point loss, the Panthers suffered a couple of late injuries in Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Wide receiver D.J. Moore twisted and came down awkwardly on an errant pass from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the end zone that should have been a touchdown. Moore apparently hurt his ankle on the play.

However, coach Matt Rhule says that X-rays on Moore’s ankle were negative. He has not yet been ruled out for the Week 14 game against the Broncos after the bye.

Bridgewater was also hurt late in the game. Speaking with reporters today via Zoom, Teddy says his arm is completely fine and he woke up feeling good.

The chemistry between Moore and Bridgewater has been just a little bit off all season. Moore has still managed to post 50 catches, 924 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Bridgewater also later admitted that he needs to make that throw.

No one party should have to take the blame for this loss, but clearly something needs to change between now and the next time this team takes the field.

[lawrence-related id=631356]

[vertical-gallery id=631296]

Report: Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey ‘unlikely’ to play vs. Vikings

The Carolina Panthers may have to go at least one more game without starting running back Christian McCaffrey.

The Carolina Panthers may have to go at least one more game without starting running back Christian McCaffrey. According to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN, McCaffrey is unlikely to play this week against the Minnesota Vikings.

McCaffrey has missed the last two games due to an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, which was injured in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs. That matchup was his return to the lineup after sitting out the previous six weeks on the injured reserve list with a high ankle sprain.

Mike Davis has performed well in McCaffrey’s place, though. He scored his third touchdown of the 2020 season in Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions.

The Panthers also have Trenton Cannon and Rodney Smith at the position. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel has been involved in the run-game this season, as well. He has 112 yards and two touchdowns as a rusher.

[lawrence-related id=631158]

[vertical-gallery id=631094]

Report: Teddy Bridgewater undergoing MRI after right knee injury

According to a report by Chris Mortensen at ESPN, he’s undergoing an MRI to determine the damage.

Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater wasn’t able to finish today’s loss to the Buccaneers. He was spotted limping towards the locker room during garbage time.

Apparently Bridgewater suffered an injury to his right knee, which is not the same one that was injured four years ago in training camp.

According to a report by Chris Mortensen at ESPN, he’s undergoing an MRI to determine the damage.

While it didn’t look terrible on TV, Mortensen isn’t a doctor and neither am I. It’s impossible to say what the injury is or how long Bridgewater might be out at this point in time.

[lawrence-related id=630884]

[vertical-gallery id=630864]

Panthers designate DB Juston Burris to return from injured reserve

It can be easy to lose track of all the injuries the Carolina Panthers have suffered this season.

It can be easy to lose track of all the injuries the Carolina Panthers have suffered this season.

Among the under-the-radar ones was the rib issue that hybrid defensive back Juston Burris suffered just before halftime of the Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears that put him on the injured reserve list. Burris has been designated to return though, according to the official team website.

Burris was playing relatively well before the injury, if nothing special. Sam Franklin has stepped up in his absence, though. It will be interesting to see who starts once Burris is officially activated. The team has 21 days to do so.

The Panthers also announced a few practice squad moves.

Backup running back Reggie Bonnafon has been reactivated to the practice squad after spending several weeks on the injured reserve list with a high ankle sprain. Defensive tackle Woodrow Hamilton was also re-signed to the practice squad. To make room for them, kicker Taylor Bertolet and defensive tackle Mike Panasiuk have been released.

[lawrence-related id=630735]

[vertical-gallery id=630623]

Report: Christian McCaffrey could miss more time with shoulder injury

You might be done with 2020, but 2020 is not done with you

You might be done with 2020, but 2020 is not done with you. The Carolina Panthers are a perfect example of that. Injuries and COVID-19 have severely impacted their roster this season, causing several key players to miss a lot of games over the first nine weeks.

Running back Christian McCaffrey has been hit again. He just returned to action in Week 9 after missing the previous six games due to a high ankle sprain. It sounds like he could be heading back to the sidelines. According to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network, McCaffrey could miss more time due to a shoulder injury he suffered against the Chiefs Sunday.

Late in the game, McCaffrey appeared to go down hard on his right shoulder when he was being tackled trying to get out of bounds. That appeared to be the source of his injury.

If No. 22 is shut down again, it will be another brutal break for a team that can’t seem to stay healthy. While Mike Davis performed well during McCaffrey’s stint on IR, yesterday’s game was moore proof that he can do things Davis (and every other running back) can’t.

Watch McCaffrey get up like Randy Moss for this catch to extend a drive in the fourth quarter.

McCaffrey finished the afternoon with 151 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.

Coach Matt Rhule didn’t offer any updates on McCaffrey’s condition after the game. We may not learn more until Wednesday when the first injury report of the week comes out.

[lawrence-related id=630685]

[vertical-gallery id=630623]