–Tight end Ian Thomas has put together some encouraging performances while filling in for injured tight end Greg Olsen.
“I had to step my game up and do what I could to fill that void,” Thomas said. “We have to do a little bit more on the offensive side and defensive side.”
Thomas might be the tight end for the team for the long run so seeing him excel at this stage is welcoming. His nine catches for 77 yards last week against Cleveland marked season highs for the rookie. The receiving yards reflect a single-game franchise record for a tight end, while the number of catches was one short of the team record for a tight end.
–Defensive end Julius Peppers didn’t envision the late-season slide that has gripped the Panthers.
His future with the team doesn’t need to be an issue at this time.
“It’s not about me right now,” Peppers said. “I will have a period of reflection at some point. Right now, it is about us trying to focus on getting another win.”
Peppers has been lauded for off-field work this season, particularly for his efforts in hurricane relief deeds. He’s the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award that goes to a player for his community service activities.
Peppers, who returned to the Panthers last season, has appeared in 172 consecutive games.
–Running back Christian McCaffrey is 10 yards away from setting the franchise record for scrimmage yards in a season. The second-year player has racked up 1,627 yards from scrimmage this season, putting him clearly in range of former running back DeAngelo Williams’ mark.
McCaffrey’s 12 touchdowns in the past seven games are the most by any player in the NFL during that stretch.
BY THE NUMBERS: 10-6 – That’s the Panthers’ record for Monday Night Football games going into the home meeting with New Orleans. Since Ron Rivera became head coach, the Panthers are 5-2 on Monday nights.
