Panthers WR Keith Kirkwood, CB Eli Apple return to practice and injury updates
Injuries to multiple starters, especially on the offensive and defensive lines, has been an early story line in the Carolina Panthers’ season.
While All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey is out for at least two more games, the Panthers got some positive updates on the injury front starting with Wednesday’s practice.
Wide receiver Keith Kirkwood and cornerback Eli Apple were both at practice to start the week. Both players had spent the first three weeks of the season on injured reserve, the minimum amount of time required to be on the list.
Both players are now on the reserve/designated to return list, and the Panthers have 21 days to determine when they should be moved onto the active roster. Teams can return an unlimited number of players from IR.
Kirkwood has been dealing with a broken clavicle that required surgery, causing him to miss a significant portion of training camp. The Panthers currently have six wide receivers on the roster — Robby Anderson, DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel, Seth Roberts, Brandon Zylstra and returner Pharoh Cooper — and it’s not necessarily an obvious need.
Apple, who would have most likely been the Panthers opening-day starter opposite cornerback Donte Jackson if not for his multiple injuries — hamstring, ankle, foot — that he came into camp with or sustained during camp. Although the Panthers could use depth at the position, cornerback Rasul Douglas, who was claimed on waivers just prior to Week 1, has played well and become a team leader.
“Really it’s not even a matter of (Apple and Kirkwood’s injuries), I think as much as their conditioning and their injury, right. We went through practice today, we’ll see how they respond and see how the coaches feel like they fit into the game plan, how far along they are technically with what we’re doing,” head coach Matt Rhule said Wednesday. “They were both out there today, they looked like they did a nice job, but I’ll have to go back, watch the tape, talk to the coaches, see exactly where they fit, and also see the need for those guys at their position in the next couple weeks, where they fit.”
Return to practice: Both defensive tackle Kawann Short and guard Dennis Daley were back at practice in limited capacities. Getting both players back would be a boost for the Panthers as they prepare to host the Cardinals on Sunday. Short has missed the past two games with a foot injury, and Daley has missed all three games after sustaining a high ankle sprain during the team’s last scrimmage prior to the start of the season.
Defensive tackle Zach Kerr has started in Short’s absence and played well overall. Guard Michael Schofield started at left guard in Daley’s absence the first two games, and Chris Reed started at the position in last week’s win over the Chargers after returning from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
As the Panthers prepare to face a quarterback with a diversity of skills in Kyler Murray, getting Short back would be a significant advantage.
“I think KK is a tremendous player, and the impact he has on everybody is really, really, really great,” Rhule said. “We’d love to have them out there with us. I thought last week Derrick Brown played fantastic. I thought he was dominant at times in the run game. I thought Zack Kerr did a lot of really really good things. To have KK back would only make us stronger.”
Update: Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson left Sunday’s win over the Chargers early due to a toe injury. Jackson said it was the same toe that he dealt with a turf toe injury on during training camp and that he is getting treatment on it. He was limited in practice to start the week.
“It just really, really irritated my toe injury that had been there for a few weeks now,” Jackson said. “I wasn’t unable to finish the game out but I’m just back in here, Monday morning, Tuesday morning, even this morning, Wednesday morning, just treating it and just trying to get it feeling as good as I can before Sunday.”
Injuries to watch: Left tackle Russell Okung missed practice Wednesday with a groin injury. He has been dealing with the injury since practice last Thursday and missed Sunday’s game because of it. If Okung is unable to go again this week, a rotation of second-year lineman Greg Little and Trent Scott is a possibility once again. Rhule also mentioned Daley’s experience playing left tackle when discussing the depth there.
Rookie defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos is dealing with an illness that is not COVID-19 related after he missed practice time and the Week 2 game against the Buccaneers due being in the concussion protocol.
Rookie safety Jeremy Chinn was limited in Wednesday’s practice due to a hip injury.
Other news:
▪ Rookie defensive tackle Derrick Brown was absent from practice due to a non-injury reason.
▪ Defensive back Natrell Jamerson has been removed from the practice squad/COVID-19 list and returned to the team’s practice squad.
