As if the deck wasn’t stacked up enough against the Carolina Panthers, the final injury report of the week brought some murky news.
Safety Vonn Bell, who sustained a quadriceps injury during yesterday’s practice, has been ruled out of Sunday’s matchup against the 4-1 Miami Dolphins. Bell’s absence will leave the 0-5 Panthers without three of their starting defensive backs, a particularly scary prospect given the potency of their opponent’s dynamic offense.
Nonetheless, head coach Frank Reich is keeping his men moving into South Beach.
“I’m excited for the guys who are gonna get to play,” Reich told reporters on Friday. “Obviously, it’s a big challenge. Nobody’s lookin’ to feel sorry for us. That’s what you get paid to do. And you go down there and play it out.
“These are great opportunities. This is a great opportunity to make a statement about who we are as a team. It’s a great opportunity for the guys stepping in. And so, we’re lookin’ forward to it.”
The Dolphins currently boast the NFL’s most productive offense, ranking first in passing yards per game (327.8) and first in rushing yards per game (185.8). The Panthers will have to try to slow that overwhelming attack down without Bell, fellow starting safety Xavier Woods and cornerback Jaycee Horn.
What could make matters even worse is a turn for the worse on outside linebacker Brian Burns and/or defensive tackle Derrick Brown. While both did return to practice this morning after missing Thursday’s session, they have been listed as questionable for the contest.
