Team news: Carolina Panthers | Page 1

Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Washington Football Team, according to the team's official injury report.

CMC's lost season is almost over. Mike Davis will continue to be Carolina's lead back, with Rodney Smith seeing work as the season winds down.

Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is not practicing Wednesday due to his thigh injury.

It's safe to say McCaffrey's Week 16 status is in doubt, a fitting conclusion to a hugely disappointing season for the star running back. McCaffrey still displayed elite skills when he was on the field, but injuries completely derailed his season for the Panthers and fantasy managers. McCaffrey will return as an elite RB1 in fantasy next season.

Running back Christian McCaffrey has played only three games in 2020 due to various injuries, but the 4-10 Panthers have not shut him down.

On Monday, head coach Matt Rhule said whether McCaffrey plays Sunday depends on if he’s available earlier in the week.

Related players: Mike Davis

McCaffrey suffered a thigh injury during a Week 14 practice. He hasn’t played since Week 9, when he suffered a shoulder injury during Carolina’s loss to Kansas City. Rhule indicated if McCaffrey can practice Wednesday, he could be on track to play.

Josh Gordon is officially again a Seahawk.

The seventh-year veteran receiver was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list Monday and added to the team’s active 53-player roster with coach Pete Carroll saying the expectation is that he will play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Carroll also said veteran tight end Greg Olsen “is returning this week’’ after having practiced last week.

Related players: David Moore

Carroll said the team is planning the week like Gordon has a chance to contribute. For fantasy purposes, he's probably a bit of a risk especially since it's the finals for most leagues, but the story said Gordon could resume his role as the team's WR3. That would mean passing Moore in the pecking order. Moore has played about 46% of the snaps this year and is having a career year as far as receptions go. Gordon has not played since last Dec 15 at Carolina.

As for Olsen, he practiced last week but wasn't activated so one can assume he was close. Carroll said via the story, assuming Olsen makes it through the practice week that “he’ll be back in, ready to go.’’ Olsen suffered a plantar fascia injury on Nov. 19 against Arizona and was then placed on injured reserve.

Is it time to seriously consider Carolina should use its first pick to draft a franchise quarterback to develop behind Teddy Bridgewater?

Absolutely. And after the Panthers on Monday fired general manager Marty Hurney, it's even more likely that a new regime will want to start fresh.

The story said the Panthers currently hold the fourth selection of the 2021 draft at 4-10. If they lose their final two games against Washington and New Orleans -- as the oddsmakers likely will predict -- they’ll have their highest pick since 2011, when they drafted Cam Newton first overall, the story said. The story speculates the Panthers will have a shot at BYU’s Zach Wilson, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance or maybe Alabama’s Mac Jones to build the offense around, assuming Trevor Lawrence and Josh Fields go before they pick.