Team news: Carolina Panthers | Page 4

Panthers have ruled three players out for Sunday:
Damien Lewis (elbow), Shy Tuttle (foot), Lonnie Johnson (hip).

Three other players questionable: Robert Hunt (hip), Diontae Johnson (groin), A'Shawn Robinson (knee).

Related Players: Jonathan Mingo, Xavier Legette

This would be a bummer if Johnson missed after the offense was absolutely humming while he compiled an 8-122-1 stat line in Week 3. It'd be an even bigger blow to the offense as a whole after they just lost WR Adam Thielen. If Johnson is a go, consider him a WR2 but if he misses this passing attack may end up being one to avoid altogether.

The Panthers will be without one of their key offensive players for at least four weeks.

Carolina is placing Adam Thielen on injured reserve after he suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday’s victory over the Raiders, according to multiple reports.

Related players: Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo, David Moore, Chuba Hubbard

Thielen sustained the injury while catching a 31-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Thielen is expected to return to the field at some point in 2024, the story said. The rookie Legette and Mingo, along with Moore, all move up the depth chart. Legette had two catches for 42 yards and Mingo caught three for 18 in Week 3. Both players have six total catches this season. Look for Hubbard to likely remain heavily involved in the passing game, too.

There wasn’t much suspense about who will be starting at quarterback for the Panthers in Week 4, but head coach Dave Canales made an announcement at his Monday press conference anyway.

“Andy Dalton is our quarterback. He gives us the best chance to win,” Canales said. “That’s the approach as we get ready for the Bengals.”

Related players: Bryce Young

Andy Dalton was 26-of-37 for 319 yards and three touchdowns in Carolina’s 36-22 win over the Raiders in Las Vegas. That was a huge leap up from what the Panthers did on offense with Young running the offense in back-to-back losses to open the season. Even better, fantasy owners of Chuba Hubbard and Diontea Johnson saw signs of life from those players.

Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle have carried the load at running back, but the Cowboys signed Dalvin Cook to their practice squad in August so they could turn in his direction in an effort to find a spark. Team owner Jerry Jones threw cold water on that idea during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, however.

Jones said he is “pleased” with how the backs have performed and that he doesn’t expect the team will call Cook’s number.

The Cowboys are averaging less than four yards per carry through the first two weeks of the season, the story pointed out. But Jones was quoted in the story saying, "I don't see a change that could involved Dalvin Cook this week."

Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, the Panthers are benching Bryce Young to start Andy Dalton — beginning with this week’s matchup against the Raiders.

As the story said, after the Week 2 loss HC Dave Canales said, "Bryce is our quarterback." But as the story added, Young has looked overmatched so far this season after struggling to a 2-14 mark last year. Young has completed just 55.4 percent of his throws for 245 yards with three interceptions. His passer rating is 44.1 and he’s averaging just 4.4 yards per attempt. As for Dalton, he's 36 and likely won't be considered a must-acquire fantasy target. But, he will have some weapons to work with in Diontae Johsnon, Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette, so he may have some value in deeper superflex leagues.

Rico Dowdle was Dallas’ most explosive back and showcased an ability in the passing game to be a complete back.

Related players: Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook

The positive news about Dowdle continues to pour in leading up to Week 1. The story said, the expectation for Dowdle at first was to be in the mix with Elliott for some carries. The author said Dowdle made the most of his opportunities in camp and looks to at least have the ability to be a full-time RB. Elliott should still be in the mix though, but Dowdle could end up giving owners more value than they thought. We'll likely need a week or two to fully see how the Cowboys plan to split up the workload.

Rico Dowdle should be the favorite to lead the Cowboys in rushing attempts and rushing yards this season.

Related players: Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn

The expectation going into camp was that Dowdle would be in position to have a larger role with Tony Pollard leaving in free agency. But the story said the fifth-year back looked to make the most of his opportunities. It went on to say he was Dallas’ most explosive back and showcased an ability in the passing game to be a complete back. Elliott will likely still be a factor but it's good news for those who took a chance on Dowdle or had secured him from last season.

Four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook is signing with the Cowboys.

Cook was waiting for the right opportunity and always felt it was Dallas. A marquee addition in Big D.

Related Players: Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn

Vaughn was a surprising "keep" on roster cut days, but this all but eradicates him from the touch share.

Cook figures to rotate in enough to make none of the top three options serviceable in fantasy, including Cook himself. In his 2023 stint with the Jets, he averaged 3.2 yards per carry and 2.21 yards after contact, a harbinger of what he brings to the table in Dallas.

The Cowboys cut RBs Royce Freeman and Malik Davis.

Related players: Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn

For about a week this summer, Freeman seemed to be the darling of the Cowboys backfield, but that quickly changed and those who follow the team pointed to Dowdle as the back who stood out the most at times in camp. Both Freeman and Davis could resign on the practice squad, however. While we don't know how the workload will be split, it looks like the Cowboys are going with Elliott and Dowdle. We do rank Elliott 34th and Dowdle 51st on our RB list.

A bit of a shocker: Panthers are releasing WR Terrace Marshall.

Related players: Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo

Some who follow the team thought Marshall was having a good camp and potentially turning things around for himself. But, the Panthers paid a lot of attention to the WR position the last couple of years. They traded for Johnson this spring after signing Thielen the previous year. Also this spring, they drafted Legette at the end of the first round, after selecting Mingo the previous season, that left Marshall buried down the depth chart.