There were some absences you could see coming at Wednesday morning’s Panthers practice as the team gets ready for their first home game after two road tilts. With Kyle Allen already announced as the starter on Sunday against Jacksonville, Cam Newton wasn’t likely to be at practice. And after missing practice all week last week and not traveling to Houston, it wasn’t shocking to see guard Trai Turner not in attendance; one would even imagine that after leaving NRG Stadium in a walking boot on Sunday, Eric Reid likely wouldn’t be practicing.
While Turner and Newton were not on the practice fields, Reid arrived for the session – albeit in a hat and without shells.
But the Panthers were also without rookie left tackle Greg Little – who started and played 100% of the snaps against Houston, wide receiver Chris Hogan – who was limping in the locker room after the game, and Donte Jackson – who worked out before the game in Houston but didn’t play. Jackson worked on the side with trainers as he rehabs his ailing groin, but Little and Hogan were not present for practice.
“I feel good, man,” said Jackson. “Just taking it day by day, getting my rehab in [and] getting my treatments in and just seeing how I feel….I had a good day of work today on the field, but I’m just going to keep on getting here early mornings and staying late, trying to get back right and get back out there with the boys.”
Rivera declined to say whether or not this was a recurrence of symptoms or a new concussion for Little. The rookie suffered a concussion during Week 3 of the preseason and was not active for the first two weeks of the season before returning in Week 3 to rotate with Daryl Williams at left tackle before starting in Houston.
“It was weird,” Little said last week about his three-week absence while he was in the concussion protocol earlier this season. “I felt like I was letting my team down. I see my guys at practice dying [and] tired – I feel like I should be out there with them, so being back out there on the field, working out and running around is the best thing ever.”
Curtis Samuel and Christian McCaffrey also missed today, but both were given the day off – McCaffrey was due a rest day after a career-high 37 touches on Sunday. Chris Manhertz, who suffered a concussion during the win over Houston, remains in the protocol and was not present at practice.
Check out the full injury report here:
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Cam Newton | Foot | None | Kyle Allen will start |
Donte Jackson | Groin | None | |
Chris Manhertz | Concussion | None | |
Brian Burns | Wrist | None | |
Chris Hogan | Knee | None | |
Greg Little | Concussion | None | |
Eric Reid | Ankle | None | |
Trai Turner | Ankle | None | |
Curtis Samuel | Rest | None | |
Bruce Irvin | Hamstring | Limited | |
Marquis Haynes | Elbow | Full | |
Gerald McCoy | Knee | Full | |
Shaq Thompson | Hand | Full | |
Christian McCaffrey | Rest | None |