How this week’s injury report affects our picks
The Carolina Panthers have been beaten and bruised in just five short weeks—almost beyond recognition on defense. Fortunately, there is some good news this week. A handful of players are coming off of the injury report and even more are threatening to be activated from injured reserve
Let’s take a look at how this week’s rash of devastating injuries plus the sprinkling of returning talent will affect the Week 6 outlook:
Austin Corbett
Another week, another major starter down for the season. Corbett was lost for the season during the Chicago Bears game to a torn bicep. He was somewhat ably replaced by former tackle and guard Brady Christensen who has become the Panthers do-it-all backup lineman.
Corbett had been playing center at a high level and it is unlikely that Christensen will hold up the same standard of play for an entire game. Andrew Raym, another depth center, is likely out this week with a concussion and the team re-signed Cade Mays to the practice squad for depth.
This is the kind of injury that has helped the spread move two points towards the Falcons since odds opened on Sunday.
Dane Jackson and Ian Thomas
These guys are the light towards the end of this sad tunnel. Both could be considered starters, or would have been if they had started the season healthy. Both are on the mend and almost to the point where they can be activated to the regular roster.
Dave Canales said “this could be the week” both guys are activated. The Panthers have two open roster spots they could fill immediately.
Jadaveon Clowney and Taylor Moton
And the tunnel gets dark again at the end. Both of these guys are above and beyond the best at what they do on the team. Neither participated in practice after suffering injuries against the Bears. Fortunately, neither was immediately placed on injured reserve this week.
Keep an eye on the injury report for Clowney (shoulder) and Moton (elbow) to see if they might play. Either absence all but dooms an already sinking ship.
The bottom line
The Atlanta Falcons have five players on their injury report, only one of whom did not participate in practice yesterday. The Panthers had six players who did not participate and twelve total on their injury report. Even if we could set aside the talent disparity between the two teams entering the season—and we most certainly cannot—the mounting injuries in Charlotte would ensure that this is not a contest between equals.
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