The Carolina Panthers will face the New Orleans Saints in Week 9 to decide which team is the most inept in the NFC South. While the Saints enter the game seriously banged up, the Panthers’ latest injury report is just as depressing.
Caroline has excluded wide receiver Adam Thielen and rookie running back Jonathon Brooks for Week 9, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on X. The Panthers’ Xavier Legette is questionable for Sunday due to a toe injury.
Carolina selected Legette with the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 draft out of South Carolina. The rookie WR had to play a bigger role than expected after Thielen injured his hamstring against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3. The Panthers moved Thielen to injured reserve before Week 4. Although the 12th-year veteran was unable to return to action, Carolina opened Thielen’s 21-day practice window before the week 8.
After 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Thielen signed with the Panthers for the 2023 season. The team added Legette in the draft and landed Diontae Johnson in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, offering the second-string quarterback year Bryce Young solid depth at the receiver position. However, the Panthers dealt Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens after Week 8 and Thielen was unable to dress, leaving Legette dealing with his own injury.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen to miss sixth game with hamstring injury
Meanwhile, Brooks, who the Panthers selected in the second round of the 2024 draft, has yet to make his NFL debut. The rookie RB suffered a season-ending knee injury last year while still in college. He chose to enter the draft despite having surgery. Although Brooks has yet to take the field, the Panthers have opened his 21-day practice window ahead of Week 7.
With Brooks sidelined, Chuba Hubbard continues to carry the load for Carolina. Miles Sanders has made the change of pace, but he could be traded before the NFL trade deadline on November 5.
With the majority of their skill position players hit or completely out of action, Carolina also finds itself in a frustrating and depressing quarterback situation. The Panthers benched second-year passer Bryce Young after two weeks of terrible play. The team turned to veteran QB Andy Dalton in Week 3 and the Red Rifle picked up a win against the Raiders – the team’s only victory of the season.
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But Dalton was injured in Week 7 in a blowout loss to the Washington Commanders – his fourth straight loss as Carolina’s starter. The team turned to Young with Dalton down and Bryce playing a little better. He threw his first two touchdowns of the season, along with two more interceptions, and the team lost yet again. Young now has two touchdowns and five interceptions in five games this season.
Young struggled in Carolina, but the team selected him first overall in last year’s draft. Despite the investment, the Panthers plan to return Young to the bench when Dalton, 37, is healthy enough to play.
The 1-7 Panthers will face the 2-6 Saints at home in Week 9. If the Panthers win, they will find themselves tied for last place due to their season-opening loss at New Orleans.
