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Carolina Panthers Notebook: NFC South Contender Getting Healthy For Playoff Push

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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Carolina Panthers Notebook: NFC South Contender Getting Healthy For Playoff Push

The Carolina Panthers are getting healthy in time to make a push for the NFC South pennant.  

All 53 players on the acive roster participated in Wednesday’s practice, including three potential starters, cornerback Jaycee Horn (concussion), center Cade Mays (ankle) and inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring).   

Rookie safety Lathan Ransom (thumb) also was listed as a full participant Wednesday. Special teams ace Claudin Cherelus practiced, but remains in concussion protocol. 

Panthers coach Dave Canales could have a full line for Sunday’s divisional matchup at the New Orleans Saints (3-10). 

The Panthers (7-6), who have not qualified for the postseason since 2017, remained tied for first place with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who face the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) on Thursday night. 

“We’ve had some bumps and bruises along the way, some longer-term injuries that affect that part of it,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said, per Panthers.com. “But we had to modify, we had to make adjustments, every day going into practice. What’s the group that we have available if we scale this back? Who can we get out there to get those reps?” 

Carolina Panthers Fielding New, Familiar OL 

Aided by the Week 14 bye week, the Panthers may be getting healthier, but their offensive line keeps changing. Even though this time, it’s returning to a familiar unit. In their opening 13 games this season, the Panthers employed 10 different offensive line combinations.

Mays, who missed two starts, will get the start at center. Austin Corbett moves to right guard, next to right tackle Taylor Moton. Left guard Damien Lewis and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu round out the top unit.  

“I feel really confident about those guys going out there,” Canales said. 

The Panthers, who dropped a 17-7 decision to the Saints in Week 10, have outscored their opponents 88-56 during the fourth quarters and overtimes.   

“I understand how important every single game is as you get to this point in the season, and so you really can’t look past any game,” Canales said. “Every game is a championship opportunity, just like the one we have in front of us. And we have to maintain that heightened focus and awareness of how important they are.” 

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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