The Carolina Panthers are sitting at 3-3 and still leading the NFC South, but the stretch run is already starting to press on the roster.
After back-to-back wins, Carolina took a tough loss to Tampa Bay last week and now has to turn right around for a Thursday Night Football trip to Green Bay. A win would get the Panthers to 4-3 and help them keep control of the division, while also potentially mattering later in the year for playoff tiebreakers.
The short week is coming with some injury concerns, too. Carolina’s estimated injury report on Monday listed Jalen Coker, Damien Lewis and Jaelan Phillips among the players dealing with ailments. That makes the need to stay healthy even more important with the division tightening up.
With the NFL trade deadline set for November 10th, the market is beginning to move. Quenton Nelson was dealt to Seattle on Tuesday, and more changes from the Indianapolis Colts are expected.
For Carolina, one NFL writer thinks the answer lies on the defensive line. Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski said the Panthers should add reinforcements up front, especially with injuries to Phillips and others forcing them to lean on Lee Hunter and Tershawn Wharton at defensive tackle.
Two possible names stand out. Khalil Mack is drawing attention on the trade market, and even at 35 years old, he still has plenty to offer a team in the playoff chase. With Los Angeles off to a poor start, his name figures to keep coming up.
DeForest Buckner is another one to watch. The Colts are off to another slow start and appear to be heading into a rebuild, and the Nelson trade officially opened the door to more movement. Buckner could be next.
In Other News...
Panthers Suddenly Have A Trade Opportunity They Can't Ignore
The Colts decision to send guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle for future draft picks immediately changed the temperature around Indianapolis, because it hinted at something bigger than a one-off deal. According to league insider Tom Pelissero, the Colts may be open to moving other players as well, which is the kind of signal front offices around the league notice right away.
For Carolina, that matters because a team still looking to strengthen its roster cannot afford to ignore a chance to shop where the market suddenly gets a little softer. If Indianapolis is genuinely willing to listen, the Panthers could have a path to players who might fit immediate needs and cost less than they would have just a week ago. The challenge now is figuring out how far the Colts are prepared to go. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Now Wait On A Packers Weapon Who Could Change Thursday Night
The Panthers are spending the build-up to Thursday night keeping an eye on a Packers receiver whose status could tilt the matchup in a hurry. Matthew Golden opened the week as a non-participant in practice before working up to limited status, and Green Bay still listed him as questionable because of shoulder and foot issues. For Carolina, that matters because Golden is one of the more explosive pieces on the Packers' offense, and his availability can shape how aggressively the Panthers have to defend the perimeter.
Green Bay's injury report also includes defensive tackles Devonte Wyatt and Anthony Campbell, along with edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr., but Golden is the name that changes the conversation most for Carolina. If he is active, the Panthers will have to plan for a different version of the Packers' passing game than the one they might have expected earlier in the week, and on a short week there is not much time to adjust once the final word comes in. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Have Found An O-Line Trade Fit Worth Debating
The Panthers are still poking around for help up front, and a new name worth watching has surfaced in Las Vegas. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler suggested interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson could be had for a Day 3 pick, which immediately makes him the kind of affordable target teams like Carolina have to at least consider as they keep sorting through their offensive line options.
Powers-Johnsons appeal is pretty straightforward for the Panthers: he has experience at right guard and center, and he profiles as either a plug-in starter or a useful depth piece depending on how the rest of the board breaks. Carolinas own roster needs make that kind of flexibility attractive, especially with other teams making moves and the market for interior linemen never really getting simple this time of year. [Read more 🡒]