Panthers focused on big matchup vs. Buccaneers as new injuries emerge on offense
The Panthers are contending for a playoff spot in December. That’s a new feeling for quarterback Bryce Young in the NFL.
But the third-year signal caller isn’t a stranger to postseason expectations. During his college days at Alabama, the Heisman Trophy winner regularly competed in big moments. He won a national championship as Mac Jones’ backup in 2020 and competed in the college football playoffs in his first season as a starter in 2021.
Young knows what big expectations look like. He knows the importance of consistency, and what that steady hand looks like when dealing with high stakes.
Heading into an all-important Week 16 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium (Sunday, 1 p.m.), Young — like head coach Dave Canales — understands his team’s focus needs to be on what’s directly in front of it.
The 24-year-old quarterback learned that lesson while swimming in the successful waters with the Crimson Tide during his three-year college career.
“We start every game, 0-0, whether that’s good or bad,” Young said. “But no one comes in, and you’re not going to win any games off the bus, not in this league. You’re not entitled to anything. So, I think in college that was a theme.”
“And also another thing was not being motivated by external stuff,” Young added. “Not looking at rankings, not looking at standings, not trying to figure out how things are going. It’s just being obsessed with us, with our process and Coach (Canales) talks about that all the time. It’s about finding our best. So, I think for me and for us, that allows us to be focused, week to week.”
Canales consistently preaches the importance of “championship opportunities” each week. He doesn’t want to look beyond the week’s opponent or at the outside distractions that come with a little bit of success.
Legendary coach Nick Saban used to call external praise “rat poison” during his time at Alabama with Young. Canales wants his crew to avoid falling into the trap that comes with wandering eyes for the standings, the accolades and everything else that gets heightened during a playoff push.
“We can’t let that be a distraction,” Canales said. “We can’t make (the game) more than it is. It’s about us executing. It’s about us playing clean football — getting rid of some of the things that showed up last week (against the Saints), and making sure we play our best brand. And I can stand in front of the group and say, ‘When we play good football, we can beat anybody.’ And that’s a true statement for this group, and I’m proud that we’ve worked ourselves to that point. But we gotta make that happen, we gotta bring it to Sunday.”
As the Panthers prepare for an NFC South battle that will greatly affect their playoff hopes, Canales wants to see his players and coaches focused on the assignment at hand.
Canales has seen some positive signs in the days following the 20-17 road loss to the New Orleans Saints, but there’s still time to get distracted. Young concurs.
“I thought it was a good day today,” Young said. “But it’s Wednesday, so we have to continue to be consistent. Have to build, have to go back after this and watch the film and get ready to grow from it. And then have a good Thursday tomorrow.”
Injuries updates: Latest on Tetairoa McMillan, Ickey Ekwonu
The Panthers worked without wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (foot/ankle), defensive tackle Turk Wharton (hamstring) and offensive tackle Ickey Ekwonu (knee) on Wednesday.
Canales said McMillan’s injuries were sustained in the loss to New Orleans. He is being considered “day to day” this week.
“I think he got rolled up on (during) a run play, it looked like,” Canales said. “And it just kind of built up on him, and we just decided to keep him out of practice today — try to get him back for tomorrow.”
Ekwonu was also injured in the road loss, per Canales. The left tackle, like McMillan, has a “day to day” status.
“He made it through the game — he was battling out there,” Canales said about Ekwonu. “You could kind of sense there was something going on, but in the post-game evaluation, and as we started doing tests on him, there’s something in there. There’s something going on with his knee. And so, we had to make sure we took care of him today. … We’re going to look at him tomorrow and see if we can get him out there to practice. But we’re not really sure right now, so we’ll go through it, we’ll make sure we’re doing all the testing that we need to, and do the right thing by Ickey.”
Ekwonu said he felt his knee injury “well before halftime” against the Saints. This week, he needs to weigh his pain tolerance with the importance of helping the team against the Buccaneers.
“That’s something that you kind of have to work through throughout the week,” Ekwonu said. “Answering those sorts of questions — and I just trust my training staff and trust everybody that’s out there trying to protect me.”
If Ekwonu can’t play against Tampa Bay, he will be replaced by Yosh Nijman or Jake Curhan, according to Canales.
Nijman previously filled in for Ekwonu in Week 1’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has also started in place of right tackle Taylor Moton twice this season. Curhan, though, has been used almost exclusively as a backup guard this year. He started at right guard during Week 13’s win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Ekwonu said he has faith in Nijman, who has been in the league longer than the starting left tackle.
“Yosh is the ultimate professional — a veteran in this league,” Ekwonu said. “So, I’m sure he will be able to get the job done if need be.”
Prior to practice, the Panthers activated veteran wideout David Moore’s 21-day practice window on injured reserve. He practiced in a full capacity during his return from elbow surgery.
Moore will be eligible to return to the 53-man roster over the next three weeks, and his practice window will allow him to take the necessary time he needs to get back into playing shape.
Moore has been sidelined since sustaining the elbow injury in the Week 4 loss to the New England Patriots.
Panthers Wednesday injury report
Here is the full Panthers’ injury report from Wednesday:
Did not participate: OT Ickey Ekwonu (knee), DT Turk Wharton (hamstring), LG Damien Lewis (illness), WR Tetairoa McMillan (foot/ankle)
Limited participation: CB Jaycee Horn (rest/not injury related), OT Taylor Moton (back)
Full participation: WR David Moore (IR/elbow), LB Trevin Wallace (shoulder)
Quick hits
- Practice-squad running back DeeJay Dallas was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 53-man roster Tuesday. Dallas had been on the Panthers’ 53-man roster earlier this year, but spent most of the campaign on the practice squad. He appeared in three games for the Panthers this season, playing mostly on special teams. He had just one carry for no gain in 16 offensive snaps with Carolina.
- With Dallas headed to the AFC South, the Panthers filled his practice-squad spot Wednesday with rookie running back Montrell Johnson. The former Florida Gators tailback played with rookies Cam Jackson, Princely Umanmielen and Trevor Etienne during his college career. Johnson previously spent time on the Philadelphia Eagles’ and Arizona Cardinals’ practice squads this year.
- Running back Rico Dowdle enters Week 16 with 978 rushing yards on the season. He needs just 22 rushing yards to produce his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. His career single- season high of 1,079 rushing yards was produced last season with the Dallas Cowboys. With six rushing touchdowns on the season, Dowdle has already tripled his rushing touchdown total from last year (two).
