With the Panthers heading into a Week 15 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks with not much left to play for but pride and putting good play on tape for future prospects, the Panthers may get two players back in the next couple of weeks with both Chris Hogan and Greg Olsen returning to practice – Olsen has been in the concussion protocol since two weeks ago in Washington and Hogan has been on injured reserve since Week 4.
The value Olsen has is clear and the veteran tight end may not want his final play of the season being knocked out and fumbling in a loss to Washington – but why bring Hogan back with three weeks left and the team eliminated from playoff competition?
“Chris has championship-caliber play in his blood,” said interim head coach Perry Fewell. “So, from our perspective, if he can help us win a game, that’s the value.”
The Panthers have lost five straight games after starting the season 5-3.
While Marquis Haynes remains day-to-day after injuring his knee in Atlanta, after leaving Mercedes-Benz Stadium on crutches, he was in the locker room after practice on Wednesday with his knee in a fairly simple brace, but new signing Ramik Wilson may take his place in terms of depth in the outside linebacking corps.
Meanwhile, Fewell confirmed that Cam Newton’s foot surgery earlier this week in New York was successful and that Newton is resting in Atlanta – there continues to be no timetable for his return, although it can be assumed that both the team and their quarterback are hopeful that he will be healthy ahead of the 2020 League Year beginning on March 18th.
Mario Addison was listed with a chest injury, but Fewell said that the day off Wednesday was mostly precautionary. Check out the full injury report below:
| Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Addison | Chest | None | |
| Marquis Haynes | Knee | None | |
| Greg Little | Ankle | None | |
| Gerald McCoy | Knee | None | |
| Trai Turner | Rest | None | |
| Christian McCaffrey | Rest | None | |
| Greg Olsen | Concussion | Limited | Olsen remains in the protocol. |
| Eric Reid | Shoulder | Full | |
| Shaq Thompson | Ankle | Full |
