Tag: Panthers

Saints suffer another wide receiver injury vs. Panthers

The Saints suffered another wide receiver injury vs. Panthers. Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) was questionable to return at halftime:


Just moments after wide receiver Chris Olave was taken off the field for a concussion, the New Orleans Saints are now  potentially down yet another one. Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. was announced as questionable to return with a shoulder injury, which he sustained on an 18-yard completion from Derek Carr.

The team came into this game already down receivers Rashid Shaheed and Bub Means as they’ve been placed on injured reserve. Now with Olave out and Wilson Jr. potentially out as well, the team was left with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mason Tipton and Jermaine Jackson at the position.

Stay tuned for updates on Wilson Jr.’s status for the remainder for the game.

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Michael Thomas airs out Derek Carr after Chris Olave’s injury

Ex-Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas criticized Derek Carr immediately after Chris Olave went down with a concussion against the Panthers:

After returning from a concussion just a week ago, Chris Olave suffered another concussion at the beginning of the New Orleans Saints’ game against the Carolina Panthers. Watching from home, ex-Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas didn’t waste time calling out Derek Carr on social media in a series of tweets.

Carr threw a ball high over the middle to the point it was uncatchable, and Olave took a big hit on the play. Thomas jumped on Carr’s lack of accuracy by reflecting on Davante Adams’ catch percentage in his All-Pro season in Las Vegas.

Thomas also called out Carr’s tendency to get antsy with any pressure, saying Carr panics and just throws the ball. It’s difficult to argue with some of the points Thomas was making.

This isn’t the first time Thomas has called out Carr and most times it has been in defense of Olave. He and Olave are both Ohio State Buckeyes and appeared to have a good relationship since Olave was drafted. Thomas isn’t on a team after being released back in March, but you have to think a team will sign the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year sooner or later.

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Saints share update on Chris Olave injury vs. Panthers

The Saints issued a positive health update on Chris Olave after he sustained a concussion in a big hit against the Panthers:

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has movement in his extremities and is being evaluated at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center after being diagnosed with a concussion against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, the team announced on social media.

Olave briefly lost consciousness on the field after a big hit from Panthers safety Xavier Woods, who drew a foul for unnecessary roughness on the  play. He was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.

This would be the fourth concussion in a series of brain injuries for Olave. The young pro has switched helmets and considered wearing a Guardian cap into games to better protect himself, but it’s something that must be handled seriously. We may be entering the point where his NFL future should be contemplated. For now, though, here’s to a full recovery.

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Demario Davis had just three words for his Week 9 Saints pregame speech

Demario Davis had just three words for his Week 9 Saints pregame speech. His team needs to dig deep for a win, even if it’s against the Panthers:

Demario Davis called his New Orleans Saints teammates together for a quick address before kickoff with the Carolina Panthers. It’s a tradition he continued after inheriting the leadership role from Drew Brees, so what did he have to say on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium?

Davis started with just three words.

“Fire, fight, finish,” Davis chanted. He went on to talk about everyone’s motivations,  why they put in the hard work to prepare for this game, and what they need to do to come away with a win.

His team needs to dig deep for a win, even if it’s just the Panthers. Nothing is  guaranteed in the NFL and any team can win on any given Sunday. If they’re going to end this losing streak, it has to start here.

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Saints starting cornerback was a street free agent just two weeks ago

From street free agent to starting on Sunday: Recapping the last month for New Orleans Saints cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles

It’s been a busy couple of months for Shemar Jean-Charles. The New Orleans Saints cornerback has bounced on and off of the team’s practice squad after a standout performance during the preseason; if not for rookie sensation Rico Payton, he likely would’ve made the roster outright. Instead, he’s gone from being a street free agent to a game-day starter in a matter of weeks.

Let’s recap his experience. Jean-Charles was waived during final roster cuts on Aug. 27 and re-signed with the Saints practiice squad a few weeks later on Sept. 11, only to be let go again on Oct. 15. His return was announced the next week on Oct. 22, after Paulson Adebo’s season-ending injury. He was promoted to the 53-man roster on Nov. 2, just in time to start in Adebo’s place against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 3.

Not bad for a former late-round draft pick. Payton is dealing with a back  issue and hamstring injuries have sidelined both Marshon Lattimore and  Kool-Aid McKinstry, so Jean-Charles is one of a couple of new faces in the Saints secondary on Sunday. Here’s hoping he makes some plays and hangs tough against a Panthers offense desperate to end their losing streak.

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Saints announce inactive players for Week 9 game vs. Panthers

Injuries in the Saints’ cornerback room highlight the inactive players in Week 9. Here’s who will be sitting this one out for both teams:

Injuries took a toll on the New Orleans Saints cornerback room going into the Carolina Panthers matchup. Marshon Lattimore and Kool-Aid McKinstry were ruled out on Friday due to injury. McKinstry suffered his injury during practice. Lattimore exited a game with a hamstring for the second time this season

Kendre Miller and Bub Means are also dealing with injuries, but they aren’t on the inactive players because they’re on injured reserve. Jamaal Williams was also listed as doubtful.

No Miller. No Williams. Expect the typical heavy dosage of Alvin Kamara.

The Panthers will be without Adam Thielen, but Xavier Legette is available to Bryce Young. Offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu is out after leaving last week’s game with an ankle injury. Young’s supporting cast being at less than full strength will impact an already struggling offense.

This is a rematch from the season opener. The Saints trampled the Panthers and started the Saints hype train. Fast forward to Week 9 and these teams have the two longest losing streaks in the NFL.

Here is the full list of inactive players in Saints versus Panthers:

New Orleans Saints inactive players:

  • CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring)
  • CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring)
  • CB Rico Payton (back)
  • RB Jamaal Williams (groin)
  • DT John Ridgeway (oblique)
  • LB Jaylan Ford
  • QB Spencer Rattler (emergency quarterback)

Carolina Panthers inactive players:

  • LT Ikem Ekwonu (ankle)
  • TE Felipe Franks (concussion)
  • S Jammie Robinson (knee)
  • CB Shemar Bartholomew
  • OLB DJ Johnson
  • TE Tommy Tremble

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Is Xavier Legette playing today? Saints vs. Panthers injury update

Xavier Legette is dealing with an injury suffered in practice, but is expected to be the focal point of the Panthers’ passing attack against the Saints:

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette is expected to play in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints, per FOX Sport’s Jordan Schultz. Legette’s became in jeopardy when appeared on the injury report Thursday with a toe injury.

Dionte Johnson is the Panthers’ leading receiver on the season. The thing is he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens earlier this week. That makes Legette the leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns among players still on the Panthers roster.

There is no other receiver on the team with multiple touchdowns or over 200 yards. Legette is still looking to get his feet underneath him in his rookie season, but the importance of his development and presence to the Panthers’ passing game is clear when looking at the rest of the roster.

As the Saints prepare to stall out a stagnant Panthers passing attack, the focal point is the rookie receiver. He hasn’t had a big game, but he was still a first round pick this year. If Legette has a breakout game this year, it wouldn’t be shocking. The Saints just need to make sure that game doesn’t happen against them.

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Dennis Allen trying to avoid 2nd-longest losing streak of his career

A seven-game skid would stand out as the second-longest losing streak of Dennis Allen’s career. Can the New Orleans Saints afford that?

The New Orleans Saints haven’t won a game since defeating the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. This week, the Saints travel to Charlotte to face the Carolina Panthers. Carolina owns the second longest losing streak in the NFL. The only team with a longer losing streak? The Saints.

New Orleans has dropped six games in a row. The loser of this game will have the longest losing streak in the NFL. If the Saints lose this game and extends this losing streak to seven games, it will stand alone as the second longest losing streak of Dennis Allen’s career.

Allen had a six-game losing streak in his first season with the Raiders. His longest losing streak spans over two separate seasons. Allen had the second six-game losing streak of his career in Year 2 with Oakland then lost the first four games of 2014.

The streak stretched to 10 games in total and ended by him being fired. One could argue losing this game to the Panthers and extending this streak to seven games would be worth his second termination, but we’ll have to wait and see whether the Saints have more patience than their fans.

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One way or another, one of the NFL’s longest losing streaks will end in Week 9

One way or another, one of the NFL’s longest losing streaks will end in Week 9. Either the Saints or the Panthers will have a new lease on life:

Win, lose, or draw — one way or another, one of the NFL’s longest losing streaks will end in Week 9. Either the New Orleans Saints or the Carolina Panthers will have a new lease on life by Monday.

Because the New York Jets won on Thursday night and the New England Patriots pulled out a win last week, the Saints are in sole possession of the NFL’s longest active losing streak, having dropped six in a row. The next-longest losing streak belongs to the Panthers, who haven’t won a game in their last five tries.

The Saints need a win in the worst way. The goodwill their 2-0 start earned them has been burnt away by a monthlong losing skid. Even if it’s just the Panthers, who they beat handily to start the season, a win would do a lot to buy them some room to breathe. Right now New Orleans is just above Carolina at the bottom of the conference standings.

At the same time, the Panthers could really use a win, too. Bryce Young has struggled as badly as any former first overall draft pick could and his return to the starting lineup is hardly secure. Managing to beat the Saints, even if they’re badly injured in the secondary, would do a lot for him, too.

These are two bad teams, but that doesn’t mean they have nothing to play for at the season’s midway point. Pride, job security, and a long-shot playoff bid are still on the line. All that’s left to see is who comes out on top.

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Saints injury report: 4 players ruled out, 6 more questionable vs. Panthers

The Saints and Panthers are both banged up. Between the two teams, Week 9’s final injury report ruled out 7 players, with 4 doubtful and 11 questionable:

It’s another rough injury report for the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, but the Carolina Panthers aren’t in much better shape. The Saints ruled out four players with six more questionable for Sunday’s game — and another one, running back Jamaal Williams (groin), is doubtful to play.

As for Carolina? Three Panthers players have already been ruled out, three more are doubtful to play at all, and five are questionable with injuries. You could almost make a 53-man roster out of all the injured players between the two teams.

But back to the Saints. New Orleans will be without cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring) as well as running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) and rookie wide receiver Bub Means (ankle). The group of questionable players includes cornerback Rico Payton (back), wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip), left guard Nick Saldiveri (shoulder), guard/center Shanne Lemieux (knee), linebacker Nephi Sewell (knee), and defensive tackle John Ridgeway (oblique).

That’s a lot to remember. Here’s the final Week 9 injury report from both teams:

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