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Carolina Panthers Notebook: ILB Krys Barnes ‘Prepping’ For Start Vs. San Francisco 49ers

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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Carolina Panthers Notebook: ILB Krys Barnes ‘Prepping’ For Start Vs. San Francisco 49ers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers inside linebacker Krys Barnes engaged in a lengthy locker-room chat with injured starter Trevin Wallace.

Barnes wanted to know everything he could before his first start during Monday night’s matchup against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. A member of the Panthers’ practice squad, Barnes has one game-day elevation remaining,

“I’m prepping to start,” Barnes said after Friday’s practice. “I was called this week. Hopefully, I will get a chance to get some good time, whatever my role is with the defense.”

First-teamers Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring) and Wallace (shoulder) missed practice Thursday and
Friday. Special teams ace Claudin Cherelus could make his second straight start. He posted 10 tackles during last Sunday’s overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons,

Barnes compiled two tackles in two previous appearances this season.

A former member of the Green Bay Packers (2020-22) and Arizona Cardinals (2023-24), Barnes could make his first start in three seasons.

“I’m going to go out there and do what I can to uphold the standard in this room,” Barnes said.

Carolina Panthers ST Unit To Be Tested

Panthers special teams coordinator Tracy Smith knows what – or who – is coming.

Entering Monday’s showcase matchup, Smith drilled his kick return units to defend 49ers’ Skyy Moore, one of the league’s top kickoff return specialists.

“They are a fantastic kickoff return team, number one in the country returning kickoffs, so I have to deal with that for sure,” Smith said during Friday’s teleconference.

Moore compiled 599 yards on 21 returns and Brian Robinson Jr. added 234 yards on seven attempts.

“Skyy Moore, Bryan Robinson, fantastic returners,” Smith said.

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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