Teddy Bridgewater out for Panthers vs. Lions game with knee injury. PJ Walker starting
Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will not play vs. the Detroit Lions (4-5) on Sunday.
Bridgewater was limited in practice all week for the Panthers (3-7) with a right knee injury. P.J. Walker and Will Grier shared the reps in practice. Walker is the expected starter. This will be Walker’s first career NFL start.
Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said Friday that he felt the quarterback’s availability would be a game-time decision.
“I feel better. I think he’s getting better. All along, I think I’ve felt good about where it’s headed, it’s just a matter of will we have enough time to get him to where he can be,” Rhule said. “I think it will truly be a game-time decision depending on how he feels and how I feel about how he feels.”
Bridgewater was a true game-time decision spending significant time warming up the knee and then throwing with offensive coordinator Joe Brady, general manager Marty Hurney, owner David Tepper and Rhule watching.
He suffered the injury toward the end of the Panthers’ 46-23 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday. Bridgewater was injured on a third-down sack by Jason Pierre-Paul in the fourth quarter with 5:24 remaining in the game. Guard John Miller (knee/ankle) was also injured on the play and is doubtful for this weekend’s game.
In 2016, Bridgewater suffered a devastating injury to his left knee that forced him to miss a large part of two seasons, but he said Thursday that his previous experience helped him realize the newer injury wasn’t as serious.
The Panthers will also be without two starting offensive linemen with left tackle Russell Okung (calf) and right guard Jon Miller (ankle/knee) both ruled out. Trent Scott and Dennis Daley are expected to start in their places, respectively.
Carolina Panthers inactive players
QB Teddy Bridgewater
RB Christian McCaffrey
CB Donte Jackson
S Sam Franklin
G John Miller
T Russell Okung
Detroit Lions inactive players
QB David Blough
WR Kenny Golladay
RB D’Andre Swift
OL Logan Stenberg
WR Danny Amendola
DL Da’Shawn Hand
DE Austin Bryant
This story was originally published November 22, 2020 at 11:41 AM.
