LT Russell Okung questionable, DT Kawann Short, G Dennis Daley doubtful vs. Chargers
The Carolina Panthers could be without two starting offensive linemen for Sunday’s game at the Chargers.
Left tackle Russell Okung (groin) is questionable for Sunday’s game and guard Dennis Daley (ankle) is doubtful. Daley has been out the past three weeks with a high-ankle sprain suffered in the team’s final scrimmage of the preseason. DT Kawann Short (foot) is also doubtful for Sunday’s game.
Okung showed up on the injury report for the first time Thursday, but said he is “working my butt off” to be available to play against his former team in Los Angeles and Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said he is hopeful he’ll be able to go.
Okung, 32, missed one game last year with a groin injury, but said he does not think there is a “direct correlation” to this injury. The left tackle played for the Chargers for three seasons before he was traded to the Panthers over the offseason.
Former Chargers guard Michael Schofield has been playing in Daley’s absence. Panthers head coach Matt Rhule was not optimistic that Daley would be available Sunday. Second-year left tackle Greg Little and another former Charger, Trent Scott, are options if Okung cannot play.
“As a backup tackle Greg Little, I think, had a good camp. You go back and watch the times in which he played last year before he got hurt, I think he’s a very good player, has really worked hard this summer on his strength, on his on his confidence, and I have full confidence in Greg,” Rhule said. “Then Trent Scott is another backup tackle for us who can also play guard, was actually with the Chargers all through camp, has been with (offensive line coach) Pat (Meyer) before, started last year for Pat and we have a lot of confidence in him as well.”
Short suffered his injury during the team’s Week 1 loss to the Raiders. He missed last week’s game, but did travel with the team. The defensive tackle missed almost all of last season with a shoulder injury.
Rookie defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos is off of the injury report for Sunday’s game after going through the concussion protocol, but he won’t be expected to play a starting role.
“I think it’ll depend on how the game plays out. That (missed week) was a crucial week in terms of development, so he’s back in it this week. Today was his first full practice, so I think he’ll be available for us as a backup, but I think those other guys have worked, they’ve developed a little bit further along,” Rhule said. “I think he’ll be ready and I think he’ll be ready to play and I think we’ll play him, but what exactly his role is, I don’t know that it’ll be quite as big as it would have been had he not gotten injured.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 5:45 PM.
