Vonn

Bell

Bell started the week off with a limited sessions but has not been able to practice Friday or Saturday, leading to the questionable designation. He’s a consistent contributor to the back end of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense, making an absence meaningful should he ultimately be held out.

Bell exited Thursday’s practice with a back injury. He has an extra day to rehabilitate the issue with the Bengals not playing until Monday night. The team would surely prefer to have him on-field for the game but the Commanders’ lackluster passing game may fail to exploit his potential absence all the same.

Like Russell Wilson, Bell is also getting paid guaranteed money to not play for his former team. The veteran safety will receive $6 million in guaranteed money in 2024, with most of that being paid by the Panthers after the Bengals signed him to a vet minimum. Bell was with the Bengals from 2020 through 2022 and totaled 288 tackles, five interceptions, and eight forced fumbles in his first stint. Bell earned a PFF coverage grade of 63.8 with the Panthers last season, and now joins a revamped safety corps that also includes Geno Stone, who was signed from the Ravens earlier in the week.

Bell was only one season into a “three-year deal.” Going on 30, Bell missed four games for the league-worst Panthers last season and contributed far fewer big plays than he did for Lou Anarumo’s defense over the previous three years. The move only creates significant cap savings if Bell is designated as a post-June 1 release. In theory, Bell does still offer every-snap availability.

Bell’s absence is a blow for a Carolina secondary that has mostly been solid in 2023 while the rush defense has been devoured by opponents. Bell being sidelined creates a slightly better matchup for Derek Carr and the New Orleans pass catchers.

Bell went down with a shoulder injury in Week 12 and did not return. He previously missed time this year with a quad issue. A missed practice to start the week puts him on the wrong side of questionable as of Wednesday, but he still has a few days to get back on the field. Bell has two pass breakups and one interception this year.

Bell will be replaced by rookie Alex Cook, who was signed off the Giants practice squad in mid-October. None of the other inactives are players who have much of a weekly impact for Carolina.

Bell hasn’t played since Week 5, so getting him back on the practice field is big news for this Panthers defense. Bell spent the previous three years in Cincinnati but came to Carolina this offseason with a reputation as being one of the better safeties against the run and coming off a season in which he had a career-high four interceptions. It remains to be seen if he can get back on the field in time for Sunday’s game against the Colts, but it would be a big boost to the Panthers defense if he could.

Bell’s absence could be good news for the Texans’ pass catchers, but the rest of the Panthers injury report is relatively good news for Carolina. Outside linebacker Brian Burns and linebackers Frankie Luvu and Kamu Grugier-Hill had been questionable but are all active. As is guard Austin Corbett, who is back and in the starting lineup at right guard.

Safety Xavier Woods (hamstring) was listed as questionable and upgraded to a full partipant on Friday, suggesting he will play. Bell went down with his quad injury in Week 6 and will need more than a bye week to get back on the field. He was a DNP in practice all week, meaning any limited practices next week would be an upgrade.