The Panthers’ Week 12 practice and injury report is delayed by one day, as their game is on Monday Night Football.
Because of the delayed schedule, the Panthers will not share any injury updates or game plan details until Thursday, when they release the first official practice report. Fans will anxiously await news on how quarterback Bryce Young’s ankle has responded since Sunday’s gutsy, record-setting performance.
But the pass-thrower is not the only impactful player expected to appear on the initial injury report. The linebacker position may present real questions about availability for the critical contest in Santa Clara, California, against the San Francisco 49ers.
Panthers’ Coach Has Confidence in Reserve Linebacker if Needed To Start Again
During his weekly radio appearance on “Panther Talk,” co-host Sharon Thorsland asked Carolina head coach Dave Canales about how he viewed linebacker Claud Cherelus’ Week 11 performance in his first defensive start of the season.
“It was a beautiful, physical, downhill style of play,” Canales said, acknowledging the success that Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robison enjoyed in the first half (93 rushing yards and two touchdowns). “We made some tiny tweaks, but it was about tackling. And Claud [Cherelus] was right in the middle of that.”
Providing more specific insight, Canales praised Cherelus for “finding his opportunities, trusting his eyes, playing off of blocks, and then shooting the gaps when he needed to. Or just pulling the trigger when he needed to, to make big hits.”
Cherelus accumulated 10 total tackles (two solo) and one pass defended while filling in for starter Trevin Wallace (shoulder).
Wallace (62.8 PFSN LBi score on the season) may realistically miss another contest, at least, since Canales designated him week-to-week after he suffered the injury in Week 10.
The defended pass came late in the game when, as Canales describes it, Cherelus was involved “on a slant to [Atlanta wide receiver] Drake London, where he showed up and delivered a pretty big hit that led into an incompletion.”
Cherelus’ running mate to start Week 11, usual starter at Jack linebacker Christian Rozeboom, reportedly dealt with some health issues before the game, then exited the contest with a hamstring injury, according to The Athletic’s Joe Person. Person noted that Rozeboom was “not sure” of his status for Week 12.
If Carolina is without both starting linebackers, Wallace and Rozeboom, Cherelus will shoulder a heavy burden. This challenge is heightened by facing a 49ers offense that stresses second-level defenders to the outside, tests their discipline, and puts them in direct conflict in coverage against weapons like Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle.
The Panthers’ coaching staff remains confident in Cherelus. Canales “loved the way he prepared. Loved the way Pete Hansen [Panthers’ linebackers coach] had him ready.”
Canales added that Hansen “has high aspirations for him because of the physical player that he is. He brings the thunder, he hits with great violence, but he’s also fast and very agile. So when you have that combination, it’s just a matter of time.”
