Damien Lewis (elbow) out a few weeks

McMillan was a DNP on Wednesday but was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday and Friday. The rookie receiver is officially off the injury report and good to go for Sunday’s pivotal Week 16 matchup against the Bucs. McMillan profiles as a low-end WR2 after failing to top 43 yards for three straight weeks. The Panthers also listed OG Damien Lewis, CB Jaycee Horn, and OT Taylor Moton as good to go for Sunday’s game.

The Panthers didn’t open Zavala’s 21-day return window until this week, but the third-year guard was listed as a full participant in all three practices. Players who log a full week of practice tend to suit up come game day, so it’s possible this questionable designation is more cautious optimism than anything else. In addition to Zavala the Panthers also listed OG Damien Lewis (oblique), OT Taylor Moton (knee), S Nick Scott (groin), and LB Trevin Wallace (shoulder) as questionable for Week 9.

Lewis suffered a UCL injury in Week 3 and missed Week 4. A return to practice this early in the week suggests he’ll be back after missing just one game. Andy Dalton came back to Earth last week, throwing for two touchdowns and one interception in a losing effort versus Cincinnati. Getting Lewis back in the lineup would help protect Dalton in his third start this season. The Panthers also got defensive tackle Shy Tuttle back at practice on Wednesday.

Lewis is dealing with a torn UCL that he hopes to eventually play through. That said, it doesn’t appear he’s recovered enough from the injury to play in Week 4 against the Bengals. In addition to Lewis, the Panthers have also listed OG Robert Hunt (hip) as questionable.

A torn UCL requires Tommy John surgery to repair, but Lewis is hoping to play through it. The nature of the injury more often affects ball throwers — i.e., pitchers/quarterbacks, but if Lewis can manage, he may opt to put off surgery until a later date. Lewis has been a DNP in each of the Panthers’ first two practices to open the week. We’ll see if he’s able to get on the field on Friday before heading into the weekend.

Moton was added to the injury report on Thursday as a DNP, suggesting the issues flared up mid-week. He was upgraded to a limited session on Friday before being listed as questionable. Left guard Damien Lewis (groin) is also listed as questionable. Lewis was limited for all three practice sessions of the week. Both linemen appear to be on the right side of questionable. Still, it’s a situation worth monitoring given how much Bryce Young struggled behind a healthy offensive line in Week 1.

Lewis joins ex-Dolphin Robert Hunt as the Panthers’ second big interior line addition of the day as they try to improve Bryce Young’s blocking. A 2020 third-round pick, Lewis was a starter for the entirety of his rookie deal in Seattle, but he was hot and cold with his effectiveness. He was reasonably durable, though he missed six games over the past three years. The Panthers are doing the right thing as they try to right the wrongs of Young’s awful rookie supporting cast.

His departure means the Seahawks are now playing with four different offensive linemen than what they started the season with up front. Lewis was taken to the locker room and deemed questionable to return.

Lewis and Bears linebacker Caleb Johnson both wound up injured on the play, but it was Johnson who was able to walk off under his own power. Lewis was taken off the field on a cart with an air cast over his right leg, as we now await further information on his injury. Drafted by the Seahawks with the 69th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Lewis has appeared on over 1,600 snaps for the Seahawks since his rookie season. Phil Haynes replaced Lewis at left guard on the following play.

Lewis (6’2/327) was a two-year starting guard at LSU who earned second-team All-SEC honors as a senior after spending two seasons at a community college. He has a very wide base and shows plenty of strength, but he’s an average athlete who can be beat with double moves in pass protection, as evidenced by his four sacks and 14 quarterback pressures allowed last season. However, he’s very strong in the run game. He constantly threw SEC defenders to the turf, and he’ll be a great fit in a run-heavy scheme. His upside is capped by his average athleticism and he’s also already 23.1 years old, but Lewis profiles as a starting guard who should be an asset on run plays. He is a very “Seahawks pick”.