The Carolina Panthers will play with Bryce Young as their starting quarterback for the second straight week.
It will be his second chance this season against the New Orleans Saints, who still have a quarterback question of their own, when the two teams meet Sunday afternoon in Charlotte.
“I’m excited for Bryce to have the opportunity to build off some of the things he did last week,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said this week. “Definitely some things to work on.”
Quarterback Andy Dalton, who replaced Young as the starter in Week 3, was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice eight days after suffering a minor thumb injury in a car accident.
The Saints (2-6) are just one game ahead of the Panthers (1-7) — who lost a 28-14 decision in Denver last week — at the bottom of the NFC South standings. New Orleans has lost six straight games, one more than Carolina.
“What we have to focus on is how do we play better football against Carolina this week,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said.
There have been changes for the Saints since their 47-10 win over the Panthers in their season opener on Sept. 8. An oblique injury to linebacker Derek Carr led to rookie Spencer Rattler taking over as the starting quarterback on October 13. Carr threw three touchdowns in the first meeting.
Rattler has thrown just one shutout in his last three games combined.
Carr could come back from injury and play against the Panthers. He had his first practice Wednesday since being injured Oct. 7 in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“(It depends) on how he looks on the field and in practice, how he throws the ball and how he feels doing it,” Allen said. “My expectation is that Derek will be ready to go.”
Carr will get more reps before the weekend.
“The real test is knowing how I feel next,” Carr said. “I feel good. Now put some days together and hopefully I can play this week.”
The Saints, who have averaged 15.7 points per game during their losing streak, have other ways to hurt the Panthers. Running back Alvin Kamara accounted for 110 total yards from scrimmage in the September meeting.
However, New Orleans has outscored its opponent in time of possession in just one of its last six games.
The Panthers managed just 193 yards of total offense in New Orleans, as Young was intercepted twice. Carolina was 1-for-10 on third downs (with the Saints at 7-for-13).
Carolina’s offense will have a different look in some ways with the trade of receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson was the Panthers’ leader in receptions (30) and receiving yards (357) in his first season with the team.
It is possible that receiver Adam Thielen will be available Sunday for the Panthers as he was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. He is on his way back from injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in September.
“All of these guys have ability, and I think it’s just a matter of finding the right combination and the right style of play to be able to attack defenses,” Canales said of the passing attack.
The Saints’ defense forces accuracy in passing, Canales said, making it even more important for Carolina’s receivers to create separation from defensive backs.
Carolina listed five players absent from practice Wednesday due to injuries: offensive tackle Ekem Ekono (ankle), tight ends Feleipe Franks (concussion) and Tommy Trimble (back), outside linebacker DJ Johnson (ankle) and safety Jimmy Robinson (knee).
The Panthers on Tuesday waived safety Ross Yeast, who was a depth addition for last week’s game at Denver.
While Kamara (hand/rib) was limited in Wednesday’s practice for the Saints, six of his teammates did not participate: cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and Rico Payton (back), free safety Tyrann Mathieu (illness), running back Kendre Miller (hamstring). ) and wide receivers Bub Means (ankle) and Cedric Wilson Jr. (hip).
– Media at the field level