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Rico Dowdle Rico Dowdle Misses practice with sore toe
Tue, Dec 30, 2025, 2:32 PM
Head coach Dave Canales said that Dowdle was held out of Tuesday's walk-through practice due to a sore toe, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Analysis: Canales termed Dowdle's absence as a rest day and labeled him day-to-day, which suggests the Panthers aren't too concerned about the running back's availability for Saturday's regular-season finale at Tampa Bay. The Panthers will wait and see if Dowdle is able to get back on the practice field in some fashion Wednesday and/or Thursday before determining his status for Saturday. Given that the NFC South title will be at stake this weekend, expect Dowdle to do everything in his power to suit up against the Buccaneers. |
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Xavier Legette Xavier Legette Struggles in Week 17
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 10:38 AM
Legette caught his lone target for three yards during Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: Despite the fact that the second-year wideout saw a sizeable workload (28 offensive snaps) during Sunday's loss, seven other Panthers topped Legette in receiving yards on the day. His role in Carolina's receiving corps appears to be shrinking, as he's caught just five of nine targets for 55 yards across the team's last four games. On the season, Legette has amassed 341 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 32 receptions. He's expected to operate as the Panthers' No. 3 wideout in a Week 18 matchup against the Buccaneers with the NFC South, and a playoff spot, on the line with a Carolina win. Note that the Panthers can also win the division if the Falcons win their next two games, no matter what Carolina does in the finale. |
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Jimmy Horn Jimmy Horn Two catches in Week 17
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 10:32 AM
Horn caught both of his targets for nine yards during Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: The 23-year-old recorded the second-most receiving yards on the Panthers during the Week 17 loss, trailing just Jalen Coker (2-16-0). Horn has now received at least one offensive touch in each of Carolina's last three games, suggesting his role is growing as the season progresses. Across 13 appearances, he's caught 10 of 14 targets for 93 yards while rushing eight times for 69 yards. Expect Carolina to continue utilizing Horn's speed in the Week 18 matchup against the Buccaneers on Saturday. |
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Tommy Tremble Tommy Tremble Logs six yards in loss
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 10:25 AM
Tremble caught his lone target for six yards during Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: Tremble tied Chuba Hubbard for the third-most receiving yards on the Panthers during Sunday's loss, as the Seahawks' defense held Carolina to just 54 passing yards. Tremble, a fourth-year pro from Notre Dame, has now caught 24 of 33 targets for 211 yards and a touchdown across 16 appearances this season. With Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) out for the rest of the year, Tremble will likely have an expanded role as a pass catcher in the Week 18 matchup against the Buccaneers on Saturday. |
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Mitchell Evans Mitchell Evans One catch vs. Seattle
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 10:20 AM
Evans caught one of two targets for five yards and rushed once for one yard during Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: Evans led the Panthers' tight end room in targets for the second consecutive game during Sunday's loss, but it didn't translate to production. The rookie from Notre Dame has now caught 18 of 23 targets for 166 yards and two touchdowns while appearing in all 16 of Carolina's games this season. He could be in line for more receiving work in the Week 18 matchup against the Buccaneers, as Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) is sidelined for the remainder of the season. |
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Trevor Etienne Trevor Etienne No touches in Week 17
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 10:15 AM
Etienne played three of the Panthers' 52 offensive snaps and tallied 91 kick-return yards during Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: Etienne hasn't received a carry since the Panthers' Week 11 win over the Falcons, playing just nine offensive snaps over the team's last five games. The Georgia product has operated as Carolina's top return man this season, recording 733 punt-return yards and 160 kick-return yards across 16 appearances. Expect the rookie running back to contribute primarily on special teams while Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard handle the Panthers' backfield duties in the Week 18 matchup against the Buccaneers on Saturday. |
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Brycen Tremayne Brycen Tremayne No catches Sunday
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 10:09 AM
Tremayne failed to haul in his lone target while playing eight of the Panthers' 52 offensive snaps during Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: Tremayne has now gone without a catch in each of the Panthers' last five games, though he received his first target since the Week 11 win over the Falcons during Sunday's loss. Across 15 appearances this season, the Stanford product has caught 12 of 16 targets for 133 yards. He's expected to continue playing a depth role in Carolina's receiving corps while also contributing on special teams during the Week 18 matchup against the Buccaneers. |
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Jalen Coker Jalen Coker Just two grabs in Sunday's loss
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 5:46 PM
Coker caught both his targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: Incredibly, he led the Panthers in receiving yards as Bryce Young was almost completely shut down by the Seattle defense. Despite the struggles of the Carolina offense, Coker was able to extend his streak of games with multiple catches to seven, a stretch in which the slot receiver has compiled a 23-302-2 line on 29 targets. Coker may need to step up further in Week 18 against the Buccaneers with the NFC South title, and a playoff spot, on the line. |
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Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan Doesn't look 100 percent in loss
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 5:42 PM
McMillan (illness) caught one of four targets for five yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: The standout rookie landed on the injury report Sunday morning due to an illness, and McMillan didn't look like himself as he set a season low in receiving yards. The eighth overall pick in the 2025 Draft still sits 71 yards short of reaching 1,000 for the year, and McMillan could be very busy in Week 18 in a winner-take-all clash with the Buccaneers, with the NFC South title and a playoff spot on the line. |
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Chuba Hubbard Chuba Hubbard Seven touches in loss
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 5:39 PM
Hubbard carried the ball four times for 12 yards and caught all three of his targets for six yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: The Panthers' offense couldn't get anything going Sunday until it was too late, and Hubbard wound up with his lowest scrimmage yards total since Week 10, when the Saints held him to just 15 yards. Hubbard hasn't seen double-digit touches in three straight games since Carolina's bye while Rico Dowdle fills the No. 1 role in the backfield, but he may need to step up in Week 18 against the Buccaneers with the NFC South, and a playoff spot, on the line. |
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Rico Dowdle Rico Dowdle Tough sledding against Seattle
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 5:35 PM
Dowdle carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards and caught three of five targets for four yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Analysis: The Panthers' offense couldn't get anything going Sunday until it was too late, and Dowdle wound up falling short of 60 rushing yards for the seventh straight game. Despite the late-season slump, the fifth-year back is still just 14 rushing yards short of setting a new career high after amassing 1,079 yards with the Cowboys in 2024. Dowdle may need to find another gear in Week 18 against the Buccaneers with the NFC South title, and a playoff spot, on the line. |
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Bryce Young Bryce Young Shuts down by Seattle defense
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 5:32 PM
Young completed 14 of 24 passes for 54 yards and an interception in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks. He added 27 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries.
Analysis: The third-year QB was completely flummoxed through the air by the Seattle defense, setting a season low for passing yards, but Young salvaged some fantasy value with a 10-yard TD dash in the fourth quarter. Young will take a 21:10 TD:INT on the year, plus two rushing scores, into a Week 18 winner-take-all clash with the Buccaneers, with the NFC South title and a playoff spot on the line. |
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Ja'Tavion Sanders Ja'Tavion Sanders Has broken ankle, set for surgery
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 3:25 PM
Coach Dave Canales said after Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks that Sanders suffered a broken ankle during the contest and is slated for surgery, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Based on Canales' comments, Sanders almost assuredly will miss a Week 18 matchup with the Buccaneers, the winner of whom will take the NFC South. In reality, though, Sanders' 2025 season likely is over, even if the Panthers were to make a deep playoff run. For as long as Sanders is sidelined and Carolina's campaign remains alive, Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans and James Mitchell will be the tight ends available to the offense. |
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Ja'Tavion Sanders Ja'Tavion Sanders Ruled out of Sunday's game
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 12:24 PM
Sanders (ankle) won't return to Sunday's game versus the Seahawks, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Sanders had his lower right leg rolled up on by RB Rico Dowdle on the Panthers' first play from scrimmage Sunday. The second-year tight end needed help getting to the sideline and then was carted to the locker room before he was ruled out. Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans will take on TE duties for the Panthers for the rest of Week 17. |
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Ja'Tavion Sanders Ja'Tavion Sanders Suffers ankle injury Sunday
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 12:16 PM
Sanders departed Sunday's game against the Seahawks due to a right ankle injury, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.
Analysis: On the Panthers' first play from scrimmage in Week 17, RB Rico Dowdle tallied an 11-yard carry but rolled up into Sanders' lower right leg as he was tackled to the ground. Sanders required assistance to get off the field and then was carted to the locker room. Carolina has deemed the second-year TE questionable to return, but if Sanders isn't able to, Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans will handle snaps at the position for the rest of Sunday's outing. |
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James Mitchell James Mitchell Inactive vs. Seattle
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 10:39 AM
Mitchell (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Mitchell will be a healthy inactive for a third consecutive week as the Panthers go with three tight ends on the active roster in Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans. Unless one of those three were to be sidelined, Mitchell will likely be a healthy scratch for the Panthers' Week 18 tilt against the Buccaneers. |
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Hunter Renfrow Hunter Renfrow Won't play Week 17
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 10:37 AM
Renfrow (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Seattle, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Renfrow has not appeared in a regular-season games since Week 6 against the Cowboys, with his absence coinciding with the return of Jalen Coker from injured reserve. Renfrow's next chance to play is Week 18 against the Buccaneers, though he's unlikely to be active for that contest unless the Panthers suffer an injury in their wide receiver corps. |
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Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan Playing through illness
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 10:30 AM
McMillan (illness) is active for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The star rookie was a late addition to the injury report Sunday morning with an illness, but despite the questionable tag, he was always expected to suit up. McMillan has taken over as the Panthers' No. 1 wideout this season, collecting multiple receptions in all but one appearance thus far, and he has five touchdowns over his past five games, including a career-high 8-130-2 line in Atlanta during Week 11. |
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Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan Expected to play Sunday
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 9:22 AM
The Panthers expect McMillan (illness), who is listed as questionable, to play Sunday against the Seahawks, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The Panthers added the wideout to their Week 17 injury report Sunday, but David Newton of ESPN.com relays that McMillan's addition was precautionary. Either way, confirmation of McMillan's status is set to arrive before the first wave of games Sunday, with Carolina kicking off at 1 p.m. ET. |
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Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan Questionable due to illness
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 9:13 AM
McMillan was added to the Panthers' injury report ahead of Sunday's game against the Seahawks, with the wideout now being listed as questionable for the contest due to an illness.
Analysis: Fortunately for those considering the wideout in Week 17 fantasy lineups, Carolina kicks off among the early slate of games at 1 p.m. ET. If McMillan is unavailable for the contest, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, Brycen Tremayne, Jimmy Horn and Hunter Renfrow would be left as Carolina's available options at receiver. |
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