How this week’s injury report affects our picks
It is going to take a miraculous showing in Week 2 for anybody to start picking the Carolina Panthers to beat anybody, let alone the Jim Harbaugh coached Los Angeles Chargers. Unfortunately, the injury report this week is not helping Panthers fans out. We could use some good news to cheer their rooting, or gambling, interests. Instead, we lost Derrick Brown.
Brown aside there are three names of note on the Panthers injury report. These are worth keeping an eye on and, if they stay on, fade the Panthers harder than we all already are.
Robert Hunt & Damien Lewis
Both of the Panthers shiny new guards are already on the injury report with a groin and hip injury respectively. Both were limited in practice yesterday and Wednesday.
I expect both to play this weekend, but this is worth keeping your eyes on.
Jadaveon Clowney
Who needs a pass rush? Clowney did not participate in practice Wednesday with an ankle injury. He was a limited participant yesterday. This was likely precautionary for an older, veteran player, but still worth paying attention to. If he’s out on Sunday then consider betting on the Chargers to score on every possession. Probably we should all bet on that anyway, really.
The bottom line
The Panthers have given no indications, through a whole week, that they are contending for anything more than the worst record in football for the second consecutive year. Do not bet on the Panthers on Sunday. Bet against them if you must.
Take this information and do with it as you will, and remember to bet the under on total sacks if anybody is daft enough to offer odds on that.
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