The Carolina Panthers are adding two of their biggest offseason investments to their long injury list.
Sunday night's 32-26 win over the Detroit Lions yielded some setbacks to outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (hamstring) and right tackle Monroe Freeling (knee). Both players made early exits from the contest and were not able to return.
When speaking on Monday, head coach Dave Canales was asked about the outlook for Phillips and Freeling moving forward. He told reporters that the team doesn't consider either injury to be serious, and that Phillips and/or Freeling could suit up for the Week 6 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles following the bye.
"He's going to be in return-to-play," Canales stated of Phillips. "We're hopeful for Philly. We'll
see. He's gotta go through the right progression of it. We'll push him the right way, the right pace based on him."
Phillips signed with the Panthers on a four-year, $120 million deal this past spring. He's totaled three tackles, 2.0 sacks and a team-leading 16 pressures.
Canales then continued in regards to Freeling.
"Same type of thing," he added. "These guys are well within the window that we think they could make it back. I can't say that's gonna happen for the Eagles game. We have to see. It really is gonna be—go through this week, treat it, get to next week for the game week to be able to start pushing them and see if they're gonna be available."
Freeling was taken with the 19th overall selection of the 2026 NFL Draft. He's started all four games at right tackle and has allowed 15 pressures over 161 opportunities.
Sixth-year veteran Stone Forsythe finished off yesterday's victory in place of Freeling, recording 27 offensive snaps.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers provide injury updates on OLB Jaelan Phillips, OT Monroe Freeling
