Cat Scratch Reader
The Carolina Panthers released their first injury report of the week in the buildup to this weekend’s contest with the Green Bay Packers, and it’s not pretty.
Let’s start with the good news I guess. Bryce Young is back to a full participant already after sitting out against the Buffalo Bills last week. Andy Dalton struggled badly in his stead, so Young’s return is a welcome sight. Speaking of Dalton, it’s his turn to sit out practice as he deals with a thumb issue he presumably suffered in Sunday’s loss. Also back at practice is Chandler Zavala, which is all the more important given the other names on the injury report.
Now, onto the much lengthier bad news. Young is coming back to a wounded offensive line. Brady Christensen is out for the year after tearing his Achilles on Sunday. He’s joined on the “Did Not Practice” by fellow linemen Cade Mays and Taylor Moton, which means over half of the offensive line Young had during the three game win streak is currently on the shelf. Austin Corbett, Zavala, and Yosh Nijman would presumably cover the center and right side of the line, though it’s possible Moton will be good to go. That’s not what you like to see going into a game where the offensive line has to block Micah Parsons.
On the defensive side of the ball, Trevin Wallace, Princely Umanmielen, and Nick Scott all missed practice. I’m sure many would classify Scott’s absence as a good thing, but we’ll see. Wallace might be good to go, but Umanmielen looks unlikely to play. That’ll be a hit to a Panthers pass rush that’s been improving. The team added Trevis Gipson to give them some depth, and he’s going to immediately get called to action.
