The Carolina Panthers will soon have the benefit of right tackle Taylor Moton, defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton, and running back Trevor Etienne after their 21-day return windows open. But head coach Dave Canales is also giving Damien Lewis a chance to feature this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Lewis was expected to miss time with a UCL injury in his elbow. Surgery wasn't required, which was something, but reports suggested the prolific left guard wouldn't be available for a few weeks while the injury healed.
The former LSU mauler missed Carolina's impressive Sunday Night Football win over the Detroit Lions. But after an extended rest following the bye, Lewis has been a surprising participant in practice this week.
Carolina Panthers are giving Damien Lewis a chance to feature in Week 6
He is currently a limited participant. That means the Panthers are still taking things cautiously with the interior force, but he is getting closer to seeing the field.
And if he can suit up at Lincoln Financial Field, that would be massive.
The Eagles boast one of the league's most formidable defensive tackle tandems in Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. They can wreak havoc in any game at any moment, and even though the Panthers have faith in Corey Bullock, his consistency doesn't match Lewis' influence.
Amid the offensive line struggles this season, Lewis was the undoubted positive. He is a commanding presence in all phases, crushing people in run-blocking situations while also excelling in pass protection.
Few guards in the league are playing better. If Lewis misses only one game and Moton makes his triumphant return after a lengthy spell out with blood clots, the morale boost this will give the locker room cannot be overstated.
Carolina Panthers' chances would improve if Damien Lewis and Taylor Moton return
Quarterback Bryce Young is facing the league's highest pressure rate this season. He's still performing exceptionally well, but if he can get a little more time in the pocket, it'll only help. And for all the Eagles' problems right now, their defense can still make things extremely uncomfortable.
Lewis' return wouldn't solve every potential problem. But it could be enough to solidify the interior protection if Luke Fortner and Robert Hunt meet their end of the bargain.
Obviously, nothing is guaranteed. The Panthers may be bringing Lewis back slowly, and limited participation is one way to do that. But if he responds well when Carolina ramps things up, that might be enough to get the all-clear.
One can only hope.
The Panthers are a better team when Lewis is on the field. He's a tone-setter in every sense of the term. While he might go overlooked compared to other prolific NFL linemen, his importance to the team is undeniable.
And if Lewis does enough to suit up in Week 6, Carter and Davis will know they have a significant challenge awaiting them.
Time will tell. But Lewis practicing sooner than expected can only be a positive development.
Add us as a preferred source on Google