Black and Blue Review
The Panthers are in remarkably good health heading into Sunday’s Week 17 winner-take-all matchup with the Falcons.
Of the two players on the injury report, running back DeAngelo Williams (hand) is probable, while linebacker A.J. Klein (ankle) is questionable.
Even if Williams plays, he is not expected to get the bulk of carries. The broken bone in his hand could still affect his pass protection and his ability to carry and catch the ball.
Running back Jonathan Stewart has piled up 437 yards the last four weeks, the highest total in the NFL. Throughout Stewart’s hot streak, Ron Rivera has been coy about how he would divvy up carries if and when Williams returned. Understandably, the coach was again less than forthcoming on Friday.
“[Stewart’s] starting,” Rivera said. “I’m not going to sit here and divulge what my plan is with my players. I don’t want to get up here and tell you exactly what we’re going to do with our players. Why do I want to give the opponent any insight into what we’re going to do?”
If Klein misses his second straight game, he would again be replaced by rookie Adarius Glanton. But the Panthers won’t rely on either too much. Against the Falcons in Week 11, Carolina played its base defense — which requires a third linebacker — on only 24 of 74 snaps. The Panthers will instead spend most of their time in a nickel/Buffalo package with defensive backs Colin Jones and James Dockery replacing the No. 3 linebacker.
Ultimately, the Panthers are about as healthy as can be for the de facto NFC South title game, and Rivera believes his team is mentally ready as well.
“We’ve been in playoff mode for the last three weeks,” Rivera said. “I think that’s been really good for us. We’ve had no moral victories in those last three weeks. Everything we’ve had has been about winning a game, winning a game and winning a game. And that’s what this is.”
“I know a lot of people didn’t have a lot of confidence in us getting into this position, but we are in this position. This group has done a great job in giving themselves the opportunity to compete in a game like this.”