The Carolina Panthers spent their bye week climbing anyway.
While they didn’t take the field, the rest of the NFC South did them a favor. The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons both lost, and with Tampa Bay pulling off a shocking win on Thursday, the division picture shifted in Carolina’s direction.
The Panthers also sit in first place, and the break appears to have helped on the health front as well. Jaelan Phillips, Monroe Freeling, and Jalen Coker have a strong chance to return this week, while Tershawn Wharton, Taylor Moton, and Trevor Etienne could join them.
There’s also the matter of the Philadelphia Eagles, who come to town after a messy stretch of their own. One offensive lineman retired, another was traded, and then the Eagles lost in bewildering fashion in London before heading back to face the Panthers on Sunday.
That combination was enough to nudge Carolina upward in the latest Sports Illustrated power rankings from Peter Dewey. The Panthers moved from 20th to 18th, a jump tied directly to the rise in their Super Bowl outlook rather than anything they did on the field during the bye.
“Bryce Young and the Panthers went from +9000 to +7400 to win the Super Bowl during their bye week, as they're 2-2 and in the mix to win the NFC South for the second season in a row,” Dewey began.
He also offered the caution flag that still hangs over this team.
“But, he added, "Their defense needs to show more -- even with all the injuries -- before I really buy this team in the futures market."
That’s the rub for Carolina. As long as Mike Jackson and Jaycee Horn are both sidelined, the defense is working with a major hole it can’t really patch. The other nine defenders can hold the line only so long.
What the Panthers did against the Detroit Lions on SNF may be the best template available for now. They’ll have to live with Akayleb Evans being targeted, but if they can bottle up the run, generate pressure at the right moments, and come through on fourth down, they can keep surviving until Horn and Jackson are back.
For now, that’s enough to keep the Panthers moving in the right direction.
In Other News...
Panthers Finally Get Two Key Linemen Back In A Crucial Stretch
The Panthers are getting a little healthier at a time when every snap matters, with head coach Dave Canales announcing that defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton and offensive tackle Taylor Moton have been designated to return to practice. Both have been on the shelf for a while, Wharton after neck surgery and Moton because of a blood clot in his lung, so simply getting them back on the field is an important step for a team trying to stabilize both lines.
Now the clock starts on a 21-day window that will determine whether either player makes it back to the 53-man roster before the season moves on without them. Wharton and Moton give Carolina a chance to add depth and experience in two critical spots, but the Panthers still have to navigate the next few weeks carefully, with each player needing to show enough in practice to earn activation rather than remain sidelined for the rest of the year. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Finally Have Injury Hope With One Big Week 6 Catch
For a Panthers team that has spent much of the early season managing injuries as much as matchups, there is finally some encouraging news on the horizon. Coach Dave Canales said wide receiver Jalen Coker is on track to return from a quadriceps injury for Week 6, with the next few practices serving as the final checkpoint. Carolina has stayed in the mix by going 2-2 and sitting atop the NFC South, but getting another piece back in the passing game would give the offense a welcome boost.
There is also movement elsewhere on the roster, with offensive tackle Taylor Moton and defensive lineman Turk Wharton having their practice windows opened. That does not guarantee an immediate return, but it does signal that both players are moving in the right direction as Carolina tries to build some stability entering a pivotal stretch. For a team still trying to piece together its healthiest version, the coming week could matter almost as much for who gets back on the field as for what happens in the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Canales Used The Bye Week To Address A Panthers Concern
Dave Canales spent Carolinas bye week doing more than simply giving the Panthers a break. With the team sitting at 2-2 and holding first place in the NFC South, the head coach used the downtime to revisit the kind of game-management details that can swing close contests, pointing to recent decisions around the league as teaching moments for his own group. It was the sort of self-scouting message that fits a team trying to stay ahead in a division race while still tightening up the basics.
The timing matters, too, because Carolina comes out of the break with the Eagles next on the schedule. Canales referenced the kinds of controversial calls made by Nick Sirianni and Dan Quinn that altered outcomes for their teams, a reminder that late-game choices can shape far more than the final minute. For a Panthers team that has shown enough to lead the division but still has plenty to clean up, the bye became a chance to stress how quickly those decisions can turn a good week into a frustrating one. [Read more 🡒]