Inside Look: Rams vs. Panthers Wild Card Injury Report
The path to the Super Bowl is rarely paved with perfect health, and the Los Angeles Rams are learning that lesson the hard way as they prepare for Saturday’s Wild Card showdown. The Rams are set to face the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in a game where roster depth will be tested immediately. Both teams have submitted their final injury reports, and while Los Angeles received some positive news regarding their star pass catchers, a significant hole on the offensive line presents a genuine challenge for the offense.
Kevin Dotson Ruled Out for Wild Card Round
The most significant development for the Rams offense is the confirmed absence of offensive lineman Kevin Dotson. Dealing with an ankle injury, Dotson was unable to get on the field at all this week. The report lists him as a non participant for Tuesday’s estimated walkthrough, and he remained sidelined during practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. His status was officially listed as “Out” on the final report.
This is a blow to the continuity of the Rams’ front five. Dotson has been a reliable presence, and his inability to suit up forces the team to rely on their depth chart in a win or go home scenario. Justin Dedich is slated to step in at right guard. This will mark Dedich’s third consecutive start dating back to Week 17. While he has logged snaps recently, the intensity of playoff football puts a massive spotlight on the backup lineman as he attempts to protect Matthew Stafford against a hungry Panthers defensive front.
Wide receiver Jordan Whittington will also miss the trip to Charlotte. Whittington is dealing with a knee issue that kept him off the practice field entirely throughout the week. Like Dotson, he logged a DNP for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Questionable Tags Loom for Ferguson and Wallace
Head coach Sean McVay has some decisions to make regarding tight end Terrance Ferguson and cornerback Josh Wallace. Both players have been tagged as questionable for Saturday.
Ferguson, battling a hamstring injury, did not participate in the early week sessions on Tuesday or Wednesday. However, he showed progress by logging a limited session on Thursday. Wallace followed the exact same trajectory with his ankle injury. He was a non participant for the first two days of preparation but managed to get on the field in a limited capacity on Thursday.
McVay indicated prior to Friday that practice performance would be the determining factor for these two. Their upgrade to limited participation on Thursday offers a glimmer of hope, but their availability will likely be a game time decision that the coaching staff sweats out until inactive lists are finalized.
Positive News for Adams and Higbee
It is not all bad news for Los Angeles. The Rams receive a massive boost with the healthy status of Davante Adams. Despite a hamstring designation, Adams was a full participant in practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. He carries no injury designation into the game, meaning the Rams will have their premier perimeter threat available without restriction.
Tyler Higbee also appears ready to contribute. The tight end is managing an ankle issue but showed a positive trend throughout the week. He was listed as limited on Tuesday and Wednesday but upgraded to a full participant for Thursday’s final session. Defensive end Braden Fiske followed a similar path with his ankle injury, moving from limited earlier in the week to full participation on Thursday. Both are expected to play.
Additionally, safety Quentin Lake (elbow) and cornerback Darious Williams (personal) practiced fully on Thursday and carry no designations.
Panthers Dealing with Guard Injuries
On the Carolina sideline, the concerns are concentrated on the interior offensive line. Guards Robert Hunt and Chandler Zavala are both officially listed as questionable. Hunt is managing a biceps injury, while Zavala is dealing with a calf issue.
The situation with the Panthers guards is somewhat unique regarding their practice logs. Despite the questionable tag, both Hunt and Zavala were listed as full participants for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Usually, a full week of practice clears a player, but the questionable designation suggests the medical staff is still exercising caution or that there is a risk of aggregation during game action.
The rest of the Panthers report is largely clean. Defensive tackles Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton, along with cornerback Robert Rochell and linebacker Claudin Cherelus, practiced fully later in the week and have no game status designation. They are good to go.
What This Means for Saturday
The narrative of this game will likely be won or lost in the trenches. For the Rams, losing Kevin Dotson puts immense pressure on the run game and pass protection. The Panthers will likely look to exploit that matchup with Dedich. However, having a fully healthy Davante Adams and Tyler Higbee gives Matthew Stafford the weaponry he needs to exploit the Carolina secondary if the line can hold up.
For Carolina, the availability of Hunt and Zavala is critical. If they are active and effective, it stabilizes their offense. If they are hampered by those injuries, the Rams defensive front, bolstered by a healthy Braden Fiske, could disrupt the Panthers’ rhythm early.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET this Saturday. With the rosters largely set, it now comes down to execution and which reserves can step up in the spotlight.
