CHARLOTTE, NC – The Carolina Panthers will not have the running back of Christian McCaffrey and several other major players from the attack on Sunday as they try to spoil the New Orleans Saints’ bet to become the NFC seed.
McCaffrey (quadriceps) will lose his seventh straight game and his 13th of the season, said coach Matt Rhule on Wednesday.
Rhule also doesn’t expect reserve Mike Davis (ankle) to play, leaving the running back functions to Rodney Smith, Trenton Cannon and wide receiver Curtis Samuel.
Left tackle Russell Okung (calf) was also dropped, leaving converted guard Michael Schofield to protect quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s blind side.
Schofield is the fifth player from the left tackle for the Panthers this season. Trent Scott was placed on reserve by injury on Monday, joining tackles Greg Little and Dennis Daley.
McCaffrey was in training on Wednesday, but did not participate. He has only played one game since suffering an ankle sprain in week 2. He has lost six games with an ankle sprain, three with a shoulder injury and the last four with a hip injury.
In 2019, McCaffrey became the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 yards running and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.