Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: The Carolina Panthers held practice today in the middle of December, preparing for meaningful football, and all 53 players on the active roster participated.
I don’t think anyone has stopped me yet, nor will they, because I cannot remember the last time all of those variables coincided. On Thursday, the stars aligned, making that scenario a reality.
The Carolina Panthers Are at Full Strength Heading Into the Week 15 Matchup
The Panthers were at full strength with all 53 active-roster players listed as full participants in the second practice session of the week. With the Week 15 matchup against the New Orleans Saints having massive postseason implications, Carolina fans and personnel, for that matter, couldn’t ask for a better canvas on which to craft their masterpiece.
The biggest individual news on the injury report is the uptick in activity for Jaycee Horn and Claudin Cherelus, who have moved from limited participation to full status. Both players remained in the league’s concussion protocol due to the bye week and were required to put in a full showing to complete the proper steps to gain clearance for play on Sunday.
Rookie safety Lathan Ransom (thumb) was also a full participant Thursday, despite having a full cast on his left hand. For what it’s worth, he was listed as a full go in Wednesday’s walkthrough, as well, so his chances for playing this week don’t appear to be in jeopardy.
The consecutive full sessions for center Cade Mays (ankle) and linebacker Christian Rozeboom (hamstring/hip) bode well for them getting back to game action.
Mays and Rozeboom are in line to serve as significant boosts for the Panthers. Carolina brings the league’s ninth-best rushing attack (125.5 yards per game) into New Orleans.
Mays’ physicality and anchor in the middle of the offensive line have been a key component, as is his pass protection and clean snap-operation for Bryce Young.
The Panthers’ offensive line grades out as the sixth-best unit, according to PFSN’s OLi metric, with a 79.0 score. The Saints’ 64.8 lands them in the 28th spot in the same field.
Rozeboom will look to provide disciplined play from the second level of the Panthers’ defense against the Saints’ offense. Running the football and stopping the run has been a winning strategy for Carolina this season. The Saints’ rushing attack is far less threatening on paper, ranking 28th in the league (94.4 yards per game).
