Two Growls One Roar: A Carolina Panthers Podcast
Panthers Injury Update: Damien Lewis Out, Jaycee Horn Hurt, Who Starts vs. Lions?
The Carolina Panthers are 1-2 and banged up heading into Sunday Night Football against the Detroit Lions, and Two Growls One Roar breaks down everything that moved at Panthers HQ this week. Two days after a 21-18 loss in Cleveland, the injury news came fast. Starting left guard Damien Lewis has a UCL injury in his elbow and is expected to miss a few weeks, including the Lions game. He's getting a second opinion, and the Week 5 bye could keep his absence to one game. Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn suffered what Dave Canales called a significant quad injury and will miss time, with a clearer timeline expected after more tests. Cornerback Mike Jackson's status is still unknown, and Jalen Coker also left Sunday's game. So who steps in? We project Corey Bullock at left guard, since he replaced Lewis in Cleveland and is the listed interior backup, with newly promoted Torricelli Simpkins III behind him. At corner, Will Lee III is Horn's listed backup and our projected starter. If Mike Jackson can't go, Chau Smith-Wade starts on the other side, and Canales hinted at possible practice squad call-ups in the secondary. We also go through Tuesday's transactions. The Panthers signed Simpkins, a Charlotte native, from the practice squad and waived linebacker Maema Njongmeta, who forced a fumble in Cleveland. Cam Gill returns to the practice squad for his third stint in about three months, Isaia Glass is back, and guard Chandler Zavala was released. That comes a day after veteran guard Saahdiq Charles rejoined the practice squad, which means three guard moves in 48 hours. On the positive side, Bryce Young is expected to play despite taking a cleat to the lower body in Cleveland. He finished that game with 291 yards and a touchdown and leads the NFL in passing yards through three weeks. Devin Lloyd, the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his two-interception game in Atlanta, says he's ready to return from his calf injury. Nick Scott's rib injury looks playable, and Xavier Legette is day-to-day with a knee issue. We walk through the full Week 4 depth chart position by position, including special teams, and flag who to watch on Wednesday's injury report. Then it's the Roar Mailbag. We answer your questions on: Who covers Detroit with the secondary this beat up Whether it's time to panic about the offensive line How hurt Bryce Young really is Why Tetairoa McMillan was quiet against the Browns, and how the tight ends stepped up Whether a 1-2 start means the season is slipping The under-the-radar player to watch Sunday night Subscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss a breakdown. Drop your mailbag questions in the comments for next week's show. Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and read more at twogrowlsoneroar.com.
