The bye week is over and the Carolina Panthers are back to work at 2-2 and alone in first place in the NFC South. On today's Two Growls One Roar podcast, we break down everything Dave Canales said in his post-bye press conference, track every player who could return, look at a new defensive tackle on the practice squad, dig into the Eagles' injury report, and debate whether Xavier Legette or Ja'Tavion Sanders gets moved before the trade deadline.
Canales didn't dodge the standings. The team talked about being alone in first, and he said the goal is to win the division. He also listed what still needs fixing: a run game they can depend on every week, a pass rush that keeps the quarterback contained, cleaner coverage communication and a bigger blitz package. We get into his thoughts on Bryce Young lining up under center, why Philly's defense looks familiar to Carolina's offense, Lee Hunter's growth as a rookie, and why Chuba Hubbard is an "overworker to a fault."
Then it's the return tracker. Every team gets eight designations to bring players back from injured reserve, and Trevor Etienne is set to use one this week. Taylor Moton (NFI, blood clots) and Tershawn Wharton (PUP, neck surgery) have both been cleared, and their practice windows open this week. PUP and NFI returns don't count against the eight. We go through who's still on IR, including Jonathon Brooks, Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson and Xavier Legette, and when each one could realistically be back. Ikem Ekwonu is still working back from a patellar tendon injury. Jaelan Phillips, Monroe Freeling and Jalen Coker are the names to watch for Sunday.
Carolina also signed defensive tackle Keith Cooper Jr. to the practice squad and released DE Anthony Goodlow. Cooper went undrafted out of Tulane and Houston and has been through the Lions, Browns and Dolphins organizations. We talk about why a big interior body makes sense right now.
On the other side, the Eagles are 2-3 after three straight losses, including a 19-17 last-second defeat to Jacksonville in London on a 57-yard field goal set up by a long kickoff return. Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith have been dealing with hamstring injuries, Jonathan Greenard missed the game with an ankle injury, Will Shipley hurt his foot, and Tank Bigsby is on IR. We look at what that means for Carolina's run defense and game plan.
Finally, the trade-deadline debate. The deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 10. Xavier Legette is on IR with a knee injury and has been passed on the depth chart, and Ja'Tavion "JT" Sanders was reportedly discussed with other teams before cutdowns. If one of them goes, which one should it be?
Drop your answer in the comments: which return matters most in Philly, Moton, Wharton or Etienne?
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