The Carolina Panthers got out of their Week 1 shootout with the Chicago Bears in pretty good shape, and the first injury report for Week 2 reflects that. Only four Panthers showed up on it, and two of them were already dealing with issues before Sunday even kicked off.
Patrick Jones did not practice because of a back injury, while Bobby Brown III was also held out with a back issue. Darren Waller missed practice for a rest day. Jalen Coker was limited with an ankle injury.
Brown’s situation is the one to watch most closely among the Panthers’ names. He left the Bears game twice, but the back problem listed here is the same issue that kept him out of practice last Wednesday. He did get back on the field later in the week and still managed to gut through Sunday.
Jones is in a tougher spot. He’s still working through his own back issue, and unless there’s a change in his practice status, he looks unlikely to play.
Waller’s absence is the simplest to explain. He’s just getting a day off.
Coker, meanwhile, appears to be trending the right way. He got a little gimpy early against Chicago, had his ankle taped, and then went on to post the best game of his career.
After the game, he was in a walking boot, but said it was only precautionary. His return to practice on Wednesday, even in a limited role, points toward him being ready for Sunday.
On the other sideline, the Falcons may be dealing with more uncertainty. Starting right guard Chris Lindstrom is in the concussion protocol, and that usually makes a quick turnaround difficult. Starting corner AJ Terrell is also on the report with a shoulder injury, though the Panthers might not mind if he can’t get back to full strength after the way he played against the Steelers.
Atlanta’s quarterback situation is also worth watching. All three Falcons quarterbacks are listed on the injury report.
Tagovailoa got the Week 1 start, then got hurt and had to leave. Micahel Penix is back to full practice, but the team is being careful as he works his way back from his third ACL tear.
If he can’t go, Cooper Rush and his janky back would get the nod.
In Other News...
Falcons Suddenly Have A Week 1 QB Issue And A Bijan Dilemma
As the Panthers keep sorting out their own roster and practice-squad moves, there was another little bit of NFC South background worth watching this week. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski gave an early look at the quarterback picture heading into Week 1, saying Tua Tagovailoa was not practicing but was improving, while Michael Penix and Cooper Rush were on the field. It is the kind of early-season injury report that can reshape a game plan before the opener even arrives, especially when a division opponent is involved.
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Dave Canales Sent Bryce Young Message Panthers Fans Can't Ignore
The Panthers loss to the Bears was ugly enough on the scoreboard, but the more revealing part for Carolina came from the sideline. Even with the defense being carved up in a 59-37 defeat, Dave Canales kept Bryce Young in the game and let him keep throwing, a sign that the coach was willing to stay with the quarterback and let the offense work through the chaos rather than pull the plug early.
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Panthers Now Face A Falcons QB Problem Nobody Can Read
The Panthers are heading into a familiar kind of divisional week with an extra layer of uncertainty, because Atlanta still has not settled on a starting quarterback for Sunday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said the Falcons are keeping all four of their quarterbacks in the mix while they sort through health and readiness in practice, which leaves Carolina with little certainty about what kind of offense it will be preparing for.
For a Week 2 matchup, that kind of moving target can shape everything from game-planning to the way the defense spends the week studying tape. Stefanski sounded intent on taking a flexible approach and letting the information collected through practice drive the decision, so the Panthers may not get much clarity until late in the week, if they get it at all. [Read more 🡒]