Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here’s how the Panthers’ hog mollies are stacking up in the “Madden NFL 24” ratings:
For the first time in some time, the Carolina Panthers seem to have an offensive line they can rely upon. But do the folks over at EA Sports feel the same way?
Here are the “Madden NFL 24” ratings for the team’s offensive linemen:
The Panthers, as of this very point, are officially center-less with another player now being sent to the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Yesterday, the Carolina Panthers started off their week by announcing a “somewhat significant” spread of COVID-19 cases on the roster and having to place six players on the shelf. On Tuesday, they added another.
Carolina’s latest guy to hit the reserve/COVID-19 list is center Sam Tecklenburg. Tecklenburg played in each of the offense’s 70 snaps this past Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he allowed a modest two pressures in the 32-6 loss.
The second-year offensive lineman started in place of Pat Elflein—who was already starting in place of Matt Paradis. Elflein remains one of the 12 Panthers who are currently away from the team after a positive test—a group which also includes defensive end Brian Burns and linebacker Shaq Thompson.
If Elflein and Tecklenburg do not return in time, Carolina will have to get a bit resourceful at the center position for their matchup with the New Orleans Saints in Week 17. The favorite to take over the reins may be Mike Horton, who was one of four practice squad protections this week.
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With starting center Pat Elflein now on the shelf, the Panthers will be rolling out yet another new offensive line combination in Week 16.
If the Carolina Panthers lead in the something, it’s probably for their amount of different starting offensive lines. Unfortunately, they’ll be adding to that lead come Sunday.
The team announced the placement of three more players to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday. That trio includes starting center Pat Elflein, backup offensive lineman Dennis Daley and practice squad defensive end Austin Larkin.
Elflein, with Matt Paradis having sustained a season-ending knee injury earlier in the year, has started in the middle in each of the past five weeks. His status will now give way and the start for the Week 16 matchup to Sam Tecklenburg—marking what’ll be the 12th unique combination along the front for Carolina in 15 games.
Also in question for the contest is left tackle Cameron Erving, who was listed on Wednesday’s injury report as a limited participant with a calf issue. Rookie Brady Christensen would presumably get the start on the blindside against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if Erving isn’t a go.
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The Panthers ruled C Matt Paradis (knee) out for the remainder of their Week 9 matchup against the Patriots.
The Carolina Panthers’ injury concerns heading into Sunday revolved around their offensive battery of quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Christian McCaffrey. But it was another key member of that unit that raised another problem in the health department.
On the first drive of their Week 9 matchup with the New England Patriots, center Matt Paradis went down with a knee injury, according to AJ Ross of CBS Sports. The seventh-year lineman was carted off to the locker room and subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Sam Tecklenburg, who’s in his second professional campaign with the Panthers, took over on the third play for the group. The Baylor University product has appeared in all eight games in 2021, with each of his 34 previous snaps coming on special teams.
Paradis’ injury now makes for the unfortunate trinity of what was Carolina’s starting interior line to begin the year. Left guard Pat Elflein was ruled inactive prior to kickoff as he continues his return off the injured reserve while right guard John Miller remains in his stint in street clothes.
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The Panthers have now placed another starting DB on the injured reserve, with S Juston Burris joining CB Jaycee Horn on Tuesday.
The third domino from the Carolina Panthers’ costly Week 3 victory has now taken its fall.
As announced by the team, strong safety Juston Burris has been placed on the injured reserve. He will now miss at least three weeks while healing from a groin injury sustained in the 24-9 win over the Houston Texans.
Burris is now the second starting defensive back to be placed on the shelf in as many days. Rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn was officially sent to his stint yesterday, as he’ll miss an extended period of time following surgery on his broken right foot.
In a corresponding move, center Sam Tecklenburg has been signed up from the practice squad. He’ll, presumably, provide some depth behind Matt Paradis and for a line already missing its starting left guard in Pat Elflein.
Taking over Tecklenburg’s spot on the practice squad will be cornerback Madre Harper. Harper, who was signed on Tuesday, played nine games for the New York Giants in his rookie campaign of 2020.
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The Will Grier experiment (if you could’ve called it that) is now over for the Carolina Panthers.
Two years ago, former Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney had the fortitude to rank Will Grier higher up on his draft board than he did Kyler Murray. Today, new general manager Scott Fitterer had the fortitude to squash that mistake.
2019 third-round selection Will Grier was amongst the team’s early cuts on Tuesday morning. So not only has the 26-year-old quarterback lost out in the battle for the backup spot to starter Sam Darnold, but he’s now lost out on his spot completely.
Grier struggled to see the field since he was drafted, then struggled when he did, totaling just 228 yards, zero touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 28 of his 52 attempts (53.8 percent) over his only two appearances. Although he wasn’t as offensive this preseason, he obviously did not do enough to inspire the staff to keep him onboard into his third year.
Joining Grier in the early cuts are outside linebacker Christian Miller (the pick after Grier in 2019), linebacker Josh Bynes, wide receivers Omar Bayless, C.J. Saunders and Keith Kirkwood, tight end Stephen Sullivan, offensive linemen Sam Tecklenburg, Mike Horton and Aaron Monteiro, running back Spencer Brown, cornerback Jalen Julius and defensive lineman Frank Herron.
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As six are headed out, which Panthers are now headed up after Tuesday’s roster adjustments?
The Carolina Panthers did some shaving down just ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline in order to hit the league’s mandated 85-man roster limit. In fact, they even got down to 84 just for good measure.
Ok, maybe not for “good measure,” but for good reason, as the season-ending injury to cornerback Troy Pride Jr. was a departure that was perhaps a bit premature. He and five others, as of now, are no longer active members of roster and, as weird is it may be to lay this down, that helps out a few men who are still around.
C Sam Tecklenburg and RT/RG Brady Christensen stepped up for the Panthers on Sunday.
The Carolina Panthers strolled into Lucas Oil Stadium yesterday afternoon relatively shorthanded for their 2021 preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Each of the team’s projected starters didn’t touch their pads, plus they were already dealing with a handful of injuries to the 90-man roster.
So, with the results now officially in, did Sunday’s snap counts come out a little funky? Well, all in all, they were probably what many would’ve expected to be.
But, more importantly, what can we deduce from these early numbers?
To fill those two spots vacated by Hector and Michel, the Panthers brought back two familiar faces.
The Carolina Panthers made several moves this morning, including activating both running back Christian McCaffrey and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos from the injured reserve list. The team also made some changes to their practice squad.
Specifically, two former Philadelphia Eagles have been activated from the practice squad to the active roster: wide receiver Marken Michel and defensive tackle Bruce Hector. Michel and Hector were two of the team’s protected players from being signed by other teams this week. The others were tight end Giovanni Ricci and offensive tackle Matt Kaskey.
Michel was active last Thursday night against the Falcons but only played seven snaps, all on special teams – which was the first live game action of his career. As for Hector, if he’s in the lineup against the Chiefs on Sunday it will be his 12th game in the NFL. So far he’s totaled half a sack and one quarterback hit in limited action. If starting defensive tackle Zach Kerr is ruled out, there’s a chance Hector will backup rookie Bravvion Roy.
To fill those two spots vacated by Hector and Michel, the Panthers brought back two familiar faces. Kicker Taylor Bertolet and offensive lineman Sam Tecklenburg have been re-signed to the squad.
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The Carolina Panthers released undrafted rookie offensive lineman Sam Tecklenburg on Thursday, according to the league’s transaction report.
The Carolina Panthers released undrafted rookie offensive lineman Sam Tecklenburg on Thursday, according to the league’s transaction report.
Tecklenburg played for coach Matt Rhule at Baylor, who convinced him to come out of retirement to play in the NFL this season after Tecklenburg had retired. He spent most of his time with the Panthers on their practice squad. He was called up to the active roster after two backups wound up on the COVID-19/reserve list: center Tyler Larsen and guard Michael Schofield. Both were activated on Wednesday, making Tecklenburg expendable. In the end, he was only on the field for eight special teams snaps.
As for who will take Tecklenburg’s spot on the roster, the Panthers are expected to activate their superstar running back Christian McCaffrey from the injured reserve list ahead of Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. McCaffrey has been out since Week 3 after suffering a high ankle sprain.
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