Injury Pileup Deepens in Green Bay
The Carolina Panthers faced more injury trouble during their Thursday night game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Rookie cornerback Will Lee III went down with a hamstring injury in the second quarter and was officially ruled out just before the second half started.
The setback came on a major play for the defense. Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed a 53 yard pass to receiver Christian Watson. Lee sustained his injury during that play. Watson was also hurt on the same play, suffering a chest injury that required him to be taken to a local hospital.
Defensive Backfield Severely Depleted
Carolina came into the game already missing key starters in their defensive backline. Regular starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson were both out of action, sitting on injured reserve with quad and groin injuries respectively.
To make matters worse, fill in starter Akayleb Evans was also sidelined with a triceps issue. The series of setbacks forced Carolina to rely heavily on reserves against a tough Green Bay passing attack.
Calling On Untested Reserve Players
With their main starters sidelined, Carolina started practice squad cornerback Marco Wilson opposite Lee. When Lee went down, the team called upon Chau Smith Wade, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 draft, to play the remainder of the first half.
Carolina had previously chosen to play Lee, Evans, and Wilson over Smith Wade in recent weeks while Horn and Jackson remained on injured reserve.
Current Match State And Healthy Options
To fill out the bench, Carolina promoted rookie Malcolm DeWalt to the active team. DeWalt made his official NFL debut on Thursday night and was left as the only other healthy cornerback on the entire Carolina roster.
As the game headed toward halftime, Carolina was trailing Green Bay 20-10 with 1:35 remaining in the second quarter. The team now faces a big challenge to keep their defense together with almost no healthy options left at the position.
Read next
- Football predictions today
- Jackpot predictions this week
- NFL and every other league
- NFL official website
Good to know: We are not paid for any link on this page.
Be the first to comment
Tell us who you think wins and why. Keep it friendly. Links are removed on their own.
Note: comments are the writer own opinion, not ours, and never a tip from us.
18+Read this before you bet
- There are no sure bets. Every tip on this page is a chance worked out from data about the next game. A tip at 70 percent still loses about three times in ten. Anyone selling a sure bet or a fixed match is lying.
- Betting is not income. Never bet to pay rent, school fees or a loan, and never borrow to bet, including from mobile loan apps.
- 18 and over only. Betting under 18 is illegal in Kenya.
- Use licensed bookmakers. Only bet with operators licensed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya. Prices here can change before you bet, so check them first.
- Gambling can be addictive. If it stops being fun, stop. Read our responsible betting page or visit Responsible Gaming Federation of Kenya.
Good to know: We are not a bookmaker and we do not take bets. Full details are in our disclaimer.
