Panthers place 8 players — 5 starters — on the COVID-19 list ahead of Broncos game
The Panthers placed more eight players, including five starters, on the COVID-19/reserve list Monday afternoon, making their statuses for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos in doubt.
In total, 10 Panthers players, including two practice squad players and a player on injured reserve, are on the list.
The new players are wide receivers DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel, defensive tackles Derrick Brown and Zach Kerr, linebacker Shaq Thompson, offensive tackle Greg Little, punter Michael Palardy (injured reserve) and Ishmael Hyman (practice squad/COVID-19).
Those players join defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and practice squad defensive tackle Bruce Hector, who were added to the list last week.
A significant disadvantage for Panthers
These players’ designation does not automatically mean they will miss Sunday’s game against the Broncos. Some Panthers players were placed on the list because of contact tracing.
The COVID-19/reserve designation indicates that a player either tested positive or were exposed and came in close contact to someone who tested positive. Players who are exposed must be symptom-free and test negative for five days before returning, according to the NFL-NFLPA Treatment Protocol.
However, players who do test positive and are asymptomatic are not allowed to return until 10 days have passed from their positive test, or they have two negative PCR tests 24 hours apart. Players who test positive and have symptoms cannot return until at least 10 days have passed from the start of their symptoms.
If those players are not available Sunday, it would put the Panthers at a significant disadvantage; Carolina is already thin at defensive tackle. Next in line to start there would be rookie Bravvion Roy and defensive end Efe Obada, who has played some defensive tackle this season. After that, the Panthers list no defensive tackles on their active roster.
At linebacker, Thompson, who is the defense’s leader, is second on the team in tackles with 86.
And at wide receiver, Moore leads the Panthers in receiving yards (924) and touchdowns (4) this season. Samuel is second in receptions (54) and has been Teddy Bridgewater’s go-to target on third down.
Moore’s status for Sunday’s game was already in flux after he injured his ankle last week in the fourth quarter against the Vikings. He had to be carried off the field and the coaching staff initially feared he broke his ankle. X-Rays revealed that it was not a break.
COVID-19 cases across the NFL
Gross-Matos was the first player placed on the list last Monday, one day after the Panthers’ 28-27 loss to the Vikings. Hector was also placed on the list later that week.
Gross-Matos played 41 defensive snaps and six special teams snaps last week, and traveled back with the team on their flight home. Players and certain team personnel are tested daily, including on game days. They continued to test throughout the bye week. The Panthers facility will be closed on Monday and Tuesday.
There has been a rise in COVID-19 cases across the league in recent weeks. It follows a nationwide trend where COVID cases are increasing in every state.
From Aug. 1 to Nov. 28, 156 NFL players and 270 other personnel tested positive.
At least 23 players for the Baltimore Ravens were placed on the COVID-19 reserve list since Nov. 23. At least one player tested positive for 10 consecutive days, according to the Baltimore Sun. Their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was delayed three times and their roster was depleted by the time they played.
Earlier this year, the Tennessee Titans had 24 people, including 13 players test positive for COVID-19 between Sept. 24 and Oct. 11. Two of their games were postponed.
Players and staff who test positive are isolated, and are not allowed to access club facilities, or have direct contact with players or personnel. The Panthers, and most of the league, have avoided any outbreaks at their facilities.
Before Gross-Matos’ designation, the last Carolina player placed on the list was cornerback Rasul Douglas on Oct. 23. At the time, he said he did not know how he got COVID-19. Four other players were placed on the list that month, mainly due to contact tracing.
Panthers offensive guard Chris Reed was placed on the list in September. He confirmed he tested positive.
This story was originally published December 7, 2020 at 8:58 AM.
