The Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers enter Saturday’s Wild Card matchup ready for a rematch. Los Angeles will be without key offensive line help and special teams contributors, while Carolina gets a major boost up front. With both teams already having played once this season, availability could be just as important as game plan when the Rams and Panthers meet again in Charlotte.
Rams injury report
Los Angeles will be missing one of its most critical offensive linemen. Kevin Dotson is out with an ankle injury. Dotson has been a stabilizing force at guard all season, and his absence forces the Rams to reshuffle their interior line against a Panthers front that thrives on pressure. His loss also impacts the run game, which has been a significant pillar of the Rams’ offense in 2025.
Jordan Whittington is also out after suffering a knee injury. Whittington has been one of the team’s top kick returners and rotational wide receivers. The Rams also lost linebacker Shaun Dolac to injured reserve late in the year.
Rob Havenstein remains on injured reserve as well, leaving the Rams without their veteran RT for another postseason run. That has placed even more responsibility on a patchwork offensive line as they try to protect Matthew Stafford on the road.
The good news for Los Angeles comes in the return of Davante Adams and Quentin Lake. Adams is back after missing nearly a month with a hamstring injury and is expected to be a significant focal point after torching Carolina in Week 13. Lake returns from an elbow injury that sidelined him for nearly two months and should immediately help a secondary that has been vulnerable late in the season.
Rams injuries
- G Kevin Dotson (ankle) – OUT
- WR Jordan Whittington (knee) – OUT
- LB Shaun Dolac (knee) – Injured Reserve
- OT Rob Havenstein (ankle) – Injured Reserve
- WR Davante Adams (hamstring) – Active
- S Quentin Lake (elbow) – Active
Panthers injury report
Carolina’s biggest news is the return of Pro Bowl guard Robert Hunt. After missing 15 games with a torn biceps, Hunt was activated from injured reserve and is ready to start.
His presence is expected to immediately improve a line that struggled to protect quarterback Bryce Young and establish consistency in the run game without him. Hunt also brings leadership and energy to a locker room that has been waiting months for his return.
Glad to have you back 50 🤝 pic.twitter.com/CHiUrTfFc9
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 9, 2026
Chandler Zavala, however, will not join him. Zavala remains out after not being activated from injured reserve, keeping Carolina thin along the interior. Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is also done for the season after being placed on injured reserve with a fibula injury.
The Panthers also continue to deal with multiple long-term losses on defense and the offensive line, including Brady Christensen, Trevin Wallace, Corey Thornton, Patrick Jones II, and Damarri Mathis. That has forced Carolina to rely heavily on depth players during its late-season push into the postseason.
With Hunt back but Zavala and Sanders out, the Panthers will look to lean on their reinforced line to control the tempo and protect their quarterback while hoping their defense can withstand the Rams’ upgraded receiving corps.
Panthers injuries
- G Robert Hunt (biceps) – Active
- G Chandler Zavala (calf) – OUT
- TE Ja’Tavion Sanders (fibula) – Injured Reserve
- G Brady Christensen (Achilles) – Injured Reserve
- LB Trevin Wallace (shoulder) – Injured Reserve
- CB Corey Thornton (fibula) – Injured Reserve
- LB Patrick Jones II (back) – Injured Reserve
- CB Damarri Mathis (knee) – Injured Reserve