Carolina is sitting at 5-8, and it sounds like Ron Rivera is starting to make decisions with one eye on 2017. Better to avoid injuries, it seems, and if that also means also getting a better draft pick next April, so be it.
Luke Kuechly, specifically, has completed the league’s concussion protocol, but Rivera says he isn’t certain Kuechly will play on Monday night. The standout linebacker is questionable on the team’s injury report.
“Whether he plays this week or not, I don’t know,” Rivera says. “We have to balance our enthusiasm with what’s best for Luke and the team long term.”
If Kuechly sits out, that will be a bonus for Washington’s running game – specifically Robert Kelley. With temperatures expected to be in the mid-20s, Jay Gruden would probably like to call a healthy number of running plays.
Carolina will be without tackle Daryl Williams (ankle) and defensive end Charles Johnson (hamstring).
Kelvin Benjamin (back) and Cam Newton (shoulder) are both questionable, but they practiced fully on Saturday. They should be fine.
CAROLINA at WASHINGTON
CAROLINA
OUT: DE Charles Johnson (hamstring), T Daryl Williams (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Kelvin Benjamin (back), LB Luke Kuechly (concussion), LB David Mayo (concussion), QB Cam Newton (right shoulder)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DE Charles Johnson (hamstring), RB Jonathan Stewart (not injury related), T Daryl Williams (ankle)
Friday: WR Ted Ginn (not injury related), DE Charles Johnson (hamstring), T Daryl Williams (ankle)
Saturday: DE Charles Johnson (hamstring), T Daryl Williams (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: WR Kelvin Benjamin (back), QB Cam Newton (right shoulder)
Friday: WR Kelvin Benjamin (back), QB Cam Newton (right shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: K Graham Gano (left ankle), LB Luke Kuechly (concussion), LB David Mayo (concussion)
Friday: K Graham Gano (left ankle), LB Luke Kuechly (concussion), LB David Mayo (concussion), RB Jonathan Stewart (not injury related)
Saturday: WR Kelvin Benjamin (back), K Graham Gano (left ankle), WR Ted Ginn (not injury related), LB Luke Kuechly (concussion), LB David Mayo (concussion), QB Cam Newton (right shoulder), RB Jonathan Stewart (not injury related)
Washington will be without starting inside linebacker Will Compton. While not quite Kuechly, he fills that role, with a team-high 101 tackles. With him out, that might loosen things up on a few plays for Carolina’s running game.
Washington won’t have reserve safety Su’a Cravens.
Standout tight end Jordan Reed (shoulder, illness) is questionable. He was limited in practice all week. Reed says he wants to play, but we have no confidence that he’ll be used in anything close to his usual role. He was on the field for 10 plays last week, with 1 catch for 10 yards.
Reed has had another week to heal, so he’ll probably play more this week. With that in mind, it’s probably also too risky to count on Vernon Davis as a replacement fill-in. Gut feel is to find a tight end on another team.
WASHINGTON
OUT: S Su'a Cravens (upper arm, illness)
DOUBTFUL: LB Will Compton (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: DE Chris Baker (ankle), S Will Blackmon (concussion, thumb), RB Mack Brown (concussion), LB Ryan Kerrigan (knee), G Shawn Lauvao (groin), C Spencer Long (concussion, stinger), T Ty Nsekhe (ankle), TE Jordan Reed (shoulder, illness), LB Martrell Spaight (shoulder), C John Sullivan (illness)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: LB Will Compton (knee), S Su'a Cravens (upper arm), RB Matt Jones (illness)
Friday: LB Will Compton (knee), S Su'a Cravens (upper arm, illness)
Saturday: LB Will Compton (knee), S Su'a Cravens (upper arm, illness), C John Sullivan (illness)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DE Chris Baker (ankle), S Will Blackmon (concussion, thumb), RB Mack Brown (concussion), LB Ryan Kerrigan (knee), G Shawn Lauvao (groin), C Spencer Long (concussion, stinger), T Ty Nsekhe (ankle), TE Jordan Reed (shoulder), LB Martrell Spaight (shoulder), P Tress Way (left ankle)
Friday: DE Chris Baker (ankle), S Will Blackmon (concussion, thumb), RB Mack Brown (concussion), LB Ryan Kerrigan (knee), G Shawn Lauvao (groin), C Spencer Long (concussion, stinger), T Ty Nsekhe (ankle), TE Jordan Reed (shoulder), LB Martrell Spaight (shoulder), P Tress Way (left ankle)
Saturday: DE Chris Baker (ankle), LB Ryan Kerrigan (knee), T Ty Nsekhe (ankle), TE Jordan Reed (shoulder, illness), LB Martrell Spaight (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: G Brandon Scherff (ankle)
Friday: RB Matt Jones (illness), G Brandon Scherff (ankle)
Saturday: S Will Blackmon (concussion, thumb), RB Mack Brown (concussion), RB Matt Jones (illness), G Shawn Lauvao (groin), C Spencer Long (concussion, stinger), QB Colt McCoy (right elbow), G Brandon Scherff (ankle), P Tress Way (left ankle)