The Carolina Panthers are going with Bryce Young as their starting quarterback for the second week in a row.
This will be his second chance this season against the New Orleans Saints, who still have a quarterback question of their own, when the teams meet Sunday afternoon in Charlotte.
“I’m excited for Bryce to have the opportunity to build off some of the things he did last week,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said this week. “Certainly some things to work on.”
Injuries are a key plot line in the rematch.
Quarterback Andy Dalton, who had replaced Young as the starter in Week 3, was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice eight days after he suffered a minor thumb injury in an automobile accident.
The Saints (2-6) are only a game ahead of the Panthers (1-7) — who dropped a 28-14 decision at Denver last week — at the bottom of the NFC South standings. New Orleans has lost six straight games, one more than Carolina, and won’t have cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) or Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring).
“What we have to focus on is how do we play better football against Carolina this week,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said.
There have been changes for the Saints since their 47-10 thumping of the Panthers in the Sept. 8 season opener. Quarterback Derek Carr’s oblique injury led to rookie Spencer Rattler taking over as the starting quarterback Oct. 13. Carr threw for three touchdowns in the first meeting.
Rattler has thrown for one TD in the past three games combined.
Carr was removed from the injury report and will play against the Panthers. He went through his first practice on Wednesday since getting hurt on Oct. 7 in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“(It depends) how he looks out there and in practice and how he throws the football and how he feels doing that,” Allen said. “My expectations is that Derek is going to be ready to go.”
Carr could be without another running back Sunday because Jamaal Williams is doubtful with a groin injury.
“The real test is seeing how I would feel afterwards,” Carr said. “I feel good. Now stack some days together and, hopefully, play this week.”
The Saints, who have averaged 15.7 points per game during their losing streak, have other ways to hurt the Panthers. Running back Alvin Kamara accounted for 110 total yards from scrimmage in the September meeting.
Yet New Orleans has topped an opponent in time of possession in only one of its last six games.
The Panthers managed only 193 yards of total offense at New Orleans, where Young was intercepted twice. Carolina was 1-for-10 on third downs (with the Saints at 7-for-13).
Carolina’s offense will have a different look in some regard with the trade of receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson was the Panthers’ leader in receptions (30) and receiving yards (357) in his first season with the team.
Offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (ankle) is out for the Panthers, but rookie second-round running back Jonathan Brooks (knee) is questionable to debut after practicing all week for the first time this season.
Tight end Feleipe Franks (concussion) and safety Jammie Robinson (knee) are out while outside linebacker DJ Johnson (ankle), wide receiver Xavier Legette are questionable for Carolina. Legette was added to the injury report late in the week with a toe injury, and his loss would be significant given the Johnson trade and wide receiver Adam Thielen being listed as doubtful. He’s working his way back from injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in September.
“These guys all have the ability, and I think that it’s about just finding the right mix and the right style of plays to be able to attack defenses,” Canales said of the passing attack.
Canales said the Saints’ defense forces accuracy on passes, making it more important for Carolina receivers to create separation from defensive backs.
Slot receiver Jalen Coker, who has 12 receptions, is the top healthy wideout on the depth chart based on Friday’s injury report.
–Field Level Media
