Carolina Panthers

Panthers Getting Healthy Again

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Carolina Panthers should be a getting a boost in Week 7 coming off their bye with the return of a few key players from recent injuries.

One of the many reasons for the Panthers rough 1-5 start has been the injuries to a number of key starters. After multiple weeks down multiple players at some key positions, it looks like the Panthers are finally getting healthy again.

The most notable returnees who made their way back to the practice field on Monday were first and second round rookies Vernon Butler and James Bradberry. The rookies will help bolster two of Carolina’s biggest problem areas in the secondary and along the defensive line.

Butler has been out since the team’s Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings where he suffered a high ankle sprain. In his press conference on Monday, head coach Ron Rivera spoke about getting Butler back on the field.

Before injuring his ankle, Butler was showing flashes of why the team made him their first round selection. His return should provide the Panthers’ pass rush with a much needed spark as they’ve recorded just six sacks over the past three weeks, and just 12 all season.

The return of Bradberry though might be an even greater one as the Panthers secondary has been a mess in recent weeks.

Jul 28, 2016; Spartanburg, SC, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback James Bradberry (24) catches a pass during the training camp at Wofford College. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The second round pick has been out since the team’s Week 4 contest against the Falcons with a turf toe injury and will come back to a secondary that desperately needs all the help it can get as a trio of Daryl Worley, Zack Sanchez and Teddy Williams simply hasn’t been cutting it.

Joining Bradberry in the secondary is Robert McClain who was out last week against New Orleans, Worley who left last week’s game with a concussion as well as Leonard Johnson who has been on the NFI list since training camp.

Nothing is set in stone as of yet but Rivera said the fact that they practiced today was a positive sign for Sunday.

While the secondary and pass rush are likely to get a boost this week, the offensive line will once again be without it’s starting left tackle as Michael Oher remains in the concussion protocol. When talking about his left tackle, Rivera said that he was improving but that still has some progress to make before he can return to the lineup.

For now though, the Panthers look like their getting healthy at the right time coming off their bye and hoping to claw their way back into possible contention.