The Panthers will have rookie quarterback Bryce Young (thigh) in the lineup against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. However, the same can’t be said for at least four of his teammates.
Young was listed on the injury report on Thursday and Friday, but he was able to avoid a status on the final injury report. The Panthers, though, ruled out four other players on Friday.
The Panthers ruled out cornerback CJ Henderson (concussion), tight end Hayden Hurst (concussion) and pass rusher Marquis Haynes (back) for Sunday. Cornerback Jaycee Horn, who is still on injured reserve, was also ruled out as he recovered from a hamstring injury. Head coach Frank Reich said after practice that Horn didn’t make enough progress in his hamstring recovery to be activated from injured reserve.
With Hurst out and Sullivan and Thomas “questionable,” the Panthers’ tight end situation is cloudy. Tommy Tremble is the lone fully healthy player at the position on the 53-man roster, but the team also has Jordan Matthews on the practice squad. Ideally, the Panthers would want three tight ends on the game-day roster to field a healthy depth situation. They will likely promote Matthews for a second consecutive week if Thomas or Sullivan can’t play.
At cornerback, Dicaprio Bootle is likely to draw his second consecutive start of the season. Bootle played well against Chicago, and he will get to a second shot with Henderson and Horn sidelined.
Haynes will be replaced opposite Burns with a rotation of DJ Johnson, Eku Leota and Amare Barno.
Reich said third-string running back and starting kick return Raheem Blackshear should be active even if Shenault is available. Shenault will be gradually used in the lineup if active.
Here is the full Panthers injury report:
OUT: TE Hayden Hurst (concussion), CB CJ Henderson (concussion), Marquis Haynes (back), CB Jaycee Horn (IR-hamstring)
Questionable: WR Laviska Shenault (ankle), S Xavier Woods (thigh), TE Stephen Sullivan (shoulder), TE Ian Thomas (IR-calf)
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