Cat Scratch Reader
How this week’s injury report affects our picks
The Carolina Panthers are finally, maybe, possibly getting healthier on a week to week basis. It’s been a few weeks since anybody was put on injured reserve. We’re in the middle of the return windows for talents like Jonathon Brooks, Adam, Thielen, D.J. Wonnum, and Jordan Fuller. And what’s more, the Panthers injury list is hardly longer than the New Orleans Saints to start the week. Let’s take a look at how this week’s injuries will affect the Week 8 outlook:
Dalton was involved in a car accident in Charlotte last week that kept him out of the Denver Broncos loss. Young didn’t exactly light it up, but it seems that, at 1-7, the Panthers have finally decided to recommit to the evaluation of Young as a long term starter. This week’s loss against the Saints is unlikely to change many minds, but nothing changes without being given a chance. So, even though Dalton was a full participant at practice yesterday, it is looking like we’ve got the Bryce Young show to look forward to for the rest of the season.
The Panthers are crossing their fingers that they see any number of their players return to the game day roster from injured reserve this week. Brooks seems the likeliest, but Wonnum, Fuller, Thielen, and Jaden Crumedy are all possibilities as well. To be clear, none of their absences or presences are set to change the odds at this point. Lots of teams teeter on the knife’s edge of competitiveness, where one injury or returning talent could shift the whole balance. That is not where the Panthers live. But, all it takes is one of these players returning and playing well as an individual to make a game even mildly more interesting. Mildly more interesting is as good as we are likely to get.
For once, the Panthers are barely more hurt than their opponents. That won’t move the needle with Young at quarterback, but it might prevent the game from entering halftime with the Panthers down, say, 30-0.
Once again, the Panthers are getting healthier, but not quickly enough to affect how we should think about this week. Bet on other games. If you really want to bet on this one, bet against the Panthers.
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