The Panthers had one player miss Wednesday’s practice. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown, though, isn’t injured. He had a rest day.
Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton was a full participant a second consecutive day. Wharton has missed the past four games with a hamstring injury but appears on track to return for the postseason.
Wharton started all nine games he played this season and had 36 tackles and two sacks in those appearances.
The other five players on the report also were full participants as the Panthers appear to be at full health heading into Saturday’s game against the Rams.
Defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (concussion), cornerback Robert Rochell (concussion), linebacker Claudin Cherelus (calf/ankle), guard Robert Hunt (biceps) and guard Chandler Zavala (calf) fully participated again.
The Rams’ injury report showed only one change from Tuesday. Cornerback Darious Williams did not practice for personal reasons.
Wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) remained a full participant, which bodes well for his availability for Saturday’s game against the Panthers. His practice on Tuesday was the first time he has fully participated since aggravating his hamstring in Week 15. He got limited work last week but missed a third consecutive game.
Adams has 60 receptions for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
`The Rams listed offensive lineman Kevin Dotson (ankle), wide receiver Jordan Whittington (knee), tight end Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) and cornerback Josh Wallace (ankle) as non-participants again.
Defensive end Braden Fiske (ankle) and tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) remained limited.
The Panthers’ decision to make wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan their first-round pick this year has paid off handsomely.
McMillan led all rookies in receiving yards during the regular season and his 1,014 yards set a franchise record for rookies. That production led head coach Dave Canales to call McMillan the “focal point” of the team’s offense and has made him the betting favorite to be offensive rookie of the year, but McMillan said on Tuesday that the team’s accomplishments are a bigger deal to him than his personal achievements.
“Shoot, I mean, obviously it’s a blessing,” McMillan said, via Darin Gantt of the team’s website. “But out of all things that we were able to make the playoffs, we got a chance at doing something great in Charlotte that hasn’t been done in a long time. So, I feel like, you know, that, that holds a higher power than me being the leading favorite for the offensive rookie [of the year].”
One of the biggest plays of McMillan’s season was the 43-yard touchdown he caught to beat the Rams in Week 13. Voting for awards is over, so something similar in this Saturday’s rematch between the teams won’t help him secure the rookie prize but it would add another flourish to an already memorable season in Carolina.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had thrown only two interceptions all season heading into Week 13 against the Panthers. But in that game Stafford threw two interceptions and also lost a fumble, and he says he’s the reason the Rams lost, 31-28.
As he prepares to face the Panthers in the playoffs on Saturday, Stafford says it’s on him to avoid turning the ball over.
“I’d like not to throw it to their team, I think that was the story of the game,” Stafford said. “We moved the ball well in some areas, scored a couple in the red zone, did some nice things, ran it well and just had the turnovers.”
Stafford said no one should put too much importance on that regular-season game, noting that both teams will have some different players on the field in key areas.
“We’re a little bit of a different team now than we were back then, they’re healthier now than when we played them, so there’s some things that are different from what happened when we played them,” Stafford said.
The most notable Panther who is healthier now is cornerback Jaycee Horn, who missed the game against the Rams with a concussion but played every other game during the regular season and is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Stafford said the Panthers’ defense will be better with Horn on the field.
“It’s adding an All-Pro type player. I think both of their corners are as good as you see in the league,” Stafford said. “As far as back ends go, it’s about as good as we’ve seen all year, and it’ll be a good challenge for us.”
The challenge for Stafford will be keeping the ball out of the Panthers’ hands, and avoiding a second big upset in Carolina.
Panthers executive vice president Brandt Tilis is interviewing for the Falcons’ president of football operations job, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports.
The Falcons have also requested to interview Lions COO Mike Disner.
The team is expected to offer the newly created position to former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
The Panthers hired Tilis in January 2024 to work with General Manager Dan Morgan on cap and salary negotiations.
He previously spent 14 seasons working in Kansas City, including the final three as vice president of football operations. Tilis also worked as director of football administration (2017-20) and director of salary cap and football operations analytics (2014-16) after originally joining the Chiefs in 2010 as a salary cap/contract analyst.
He was the lead negotiator on Patrick Mahomes’ contract.
The Falcons also are searching for a new General Manager and head coach after firing Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris earlier this week.
