Christian McCaffrey returns to practice, Matt Rhule hopeful he can play vs. Falcons
Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said Monday he is “hopeful” that running back Christian McCaffrey will play in Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.
But Rhule added that McCaffrey won’t return to action until he’s cleared by doctors. The Panthers’ star running back was at practice Monday, more than a month after the Sept. 20 injury.
McCaffrey has spent the last five weeks on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain suffered during the Panthers’ Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
During Monday’s portion of practice that’s open to the media, McCaffrey put on a red jersey, indicating he is not yet participating. He did not take part in any of the team’s stretching.
Though he was at practice, McCaffrey has not yet been placed on the designated to return list. When he is, he has 21 days to practice before the Panthers have to make a decision on bringing him back to the active roster. He can be brought back any time during that time period. McCaffrey will not count toward a roster spot until he is officially back on the active roster.
The Panthers have gone 3-2 without their All-Pro back.
Running back Mike Davis has filled in well for McCaffrey overall. In five starts, he has 70 rushing attempts for 283 yards and two rushing touchdowns, in addition to 29 receptions for 159 yards and two receiving scores. Davis also had his second career fumble in the Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Rhule said Davis will still play when McCaffrey returns. Davis has earned playing time, the coach said.
McCaffrey had not missed a single NFL game, prior to his injury, since being drafted eighth overall by the Panthers in 2017.
The Panthers hosts the Falcons on “Thursday Night Football” this week — Carolina won in the teams’ first meeting in Week 5 — and then will travel to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday.
Roster moves:
The Panthers released wide receiver Seth Roberts Monday afternoon. Roberts had been one of the Panthers trade candidates and finished his time with the team catching four passes for 31 yards.
The team’s depth at wide receiver on the active roster behind Robby Anderson, DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel includes Brandon Zylstra and returner Pharoh Cooper.
Practice squad defensive back Josh Hawkins was also released Monday, less than a week after the team signed him. He had previously spent time in Carolina in 2018. A video circulated of Hawkins dancing over the weekend at a packed club in Charlotte without a face mask.
Staff writer Jonathan M. Alexander contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 26, 2020 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Christian McCaffrey returns to practice, Matt Rhule hopeful he can play vs. Falcons."
