4 Panthers players who need to step up at the Packers in Week 15
By Dean Jones
D.J. Moore – Carolina Panthers WR
D.J. Moore is finally off the reserve/COVID-19 list and should be eager to make up for the lost time. Matt Rhule was less than pleased with the conduct of some of his players after they met in a social gathering during the bye that caused some serious complications to their preparations before their defeat against the Broncos. So the wide receiver definitely has a point to prove.
The Carolina Panthers missed Moore last weekend, who looks well on course for his second 1,000-yard receiving season in succession. Things will not be easy for the former first-round pick going up against stud cornerback Jaire Alexander. But he should be fresh and ready to go after a frustrating few weeks.
Carolina needs to keep the chains moving on Saturday. This will give them the chance to put some notable points on the board and – perhaps more importantly – keep Green Bay’s offense off the field in pursuit of victory.
That is obviously easier said than done.
But having Moore back in the lineup is a massive boost.
The Maryland product is averaging 77 receiving yards-per-game in 2020, which might look even better if not for his 56.2 percent catch completion percentage. Moore has all the talent to make a real difference at the Packers despite conditions set to be less than ideal for those collecting passes – which tends to be the case at this time of year in Wisconsin.