The Carolina Panthers ruled out four players on the final injury report before facing the Green Bay Packers on "Thursday Night Football" to open Week 8 in the NFL. Among the four players are Carolina's top pass-rusher and top offensive lineman, plus a starting cornerback.
The Panthers ruled out edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, guard Damien Lewis, cornerback Akayleb Evans and offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins III.
The Packers final injury report will arrive later on Wednesday. For now, let's focus on Carolina's injury hurdles.
Phillips, one of the free-agent prizes of the offseason, leads the team in pressures with 18 entering Week 7. Lewis is the Panthers' highest graded blocker in the run game and in pass protection, per PFF. Evans is a preferred
starter at cornerback with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on injured reserve.
In last season's upset win over the Packers, Lewis was excellent as a run blocker, helping pave the way to a 100-yard rushing day for Rico Dowdle. A week later, Phillips terrorized the Packers as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, producing eight pressures and a key fourth down stop late in the game.
The Panthers also placed starting right tackle Taylor Moton on injured reserve on Monday, and former Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker is a starter in Carolina only because Ikem Ekwonu is on the non-football injury list.
Others on injured reserve for the Panthers: receivers Xavier Legette and Chris Brazzell, edge rusher Nic Scourton and running back Jonathan Brooks. This is a team missing several important players on both sides of the football, especially along the line of scrimmage.
The Packers have their own troubling injury issues, and the easy counter is to say Matt LaFleur's team won't have their top edge rusher (Micah Parsons) or top offensive lineman (Zach Tom) on Thursday night. Green Bay has a number of key players out, including slot receiver Jayden Reed, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, linebacker Zaire Franklin and center Sean Rhyan.
Football is a game of attrition, and "next man up" defines a sport where injuries cannot be avoided. Which team -- the Packers or Panthers -- will better weather the injury storm on a short week?
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Panthers rule out top pass-rusher and top OL before facing Packers
