Panthers will start Diontae Johnson, but a lot of defensive stars out vs. Commanders

The Carolina Panthers have their work cut out for them in the next game.

And the sportsbooks seem to think so, too.

The Panthers, fresh off a 38-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at home, will travel to Washington to take on the Commanders for Week 7 of the NFL slate. Last weekend, Carolina (1-5) was an 8.5-point underdog to the Commanders (4-2) — who are absolutely surging behind the golden arm of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. That line moved quite a bit by Sunday morning: now the Panthers are 9.5-point underdogs.

Here’s an early look at the Panthers-Commanders contest.

Where and when is the Panthers vs. Commanders game?

The game on Sunday, Oct. 20, will be played at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, five miles east of Washington. It’s scheduled to kick off at 4:05 p.m.

Panthers and Commanders inactive reports

The Panthers declared the following players inactive on Sunday:

• OLB Jadeveon Clowney
• LB Josey Jewell
• LB Jon Rhattigan
• LB Claudin Cherelus
• T Taylor Moton
• TE Tommy Tremble
• DE A’Shawn Robinson

Carolina also added Dane Jackson to the active roster. Certainly seems like he will make his Panthers debut to help this struggling defensive secondary. Shaquille Quarterman, Shaq Lawson and TJ Smith were all elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s contest.

The inactivity report shows that the Panthers’ injury list is longer than a CVS receipt. And what’s hurt most is that front-seven on the defensive side. The 3-4 front they started with at the beginning of the season only has one remaining healthy guy: Shy Tuttle. The others? Robinson, Derrick Brown, Shaq Thompson, Jewell, Clowney and DJ Wonnum (still on IR).

The good news is that Diontae Johnson — who showed up on the injury report this week nursing injuries to his ribs, ankle and hamstring — will suit up and play against Washington.

The Commanders declared the following players inactive, too:

• QB Jeff Driskel
• S Tyler Owens
• LB Dominique Hampton
• G Chris Paul
• DE Dorance Armstrong

What’s the betting line?

The Panthers are 8.5-point underdogs to the Commanders, according to DraftKings as of last weekend. That changed slightly throughout the week, of course — but with the Commanders looking good (even in a one-score loss against the Ravens) and the Panthers looking rough, this feels about right.

The over/under was at 49 as of Sunday evening. The two struggling defenses mixed with Washington’s high-powered offense suggests that the over is the safe bet. Moneyline is a compelling bet, too, if you’re high on the Panthers right now: The Panthers are +340; the Commanders are -440.

Carolina is only 1-5 against the spread. The Commanders are 4-1-1 against the spread — the push coming in this past week’s seven-point loss to the Ravens.

What’s the TV channel and radio info for the Panthers-Bears game?

You can catch this one on CBS. Fans can also catch the game on WRFX 99.7 FM The Fox or 1060 AM (WXNC 97.3 FM) for Spanish radio if you’re in the Charlotte area.

If you’re not in the Charlotte area, use the Carolina Panthers Radio Network as your guide. Check the table below for your local affiliate.

This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 5:00 AM.

Alex Zietlow

The Charlotte Observer

Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22. Support my work with a digital subscription