Panthers set the stage for potential Robert Hunt return during playoff push

The Panthers activated Pro Bowl right guard Robert Hunt’s 21-day practice window on Wednesday.

Hunt, who has been on injured reserve since Week 3, can be activated to the 53-man roster at any point over the next 21 days. Hunt underwent bicep surgery earlier this year after being injured during the Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

As of now, Hunt remains on injured reserve, but he is allowed to practice in a full capacity throughout the week.

“I think seeing the guys playing well, doing good — seeing that and feeling the crowd out there — has kind of energized me in general,” Hunt said. “I go out there and it’s like, ‘(Darn), this feels good, it sounds good — I want to play.’ So, just within that, that keeps me motivated. … I’m just taking it one day at a time, and if it came about, it came about, and we’ll see how the future goes.”

Hunt, who made the Pro Bowl last season, would be a welcome return for an offensive line that has had 11 different starting combinations in 15 games.

The Panthers have started Hunt, Chandler Zavala, Austin Corbett and Jake Curhan at right guard this season as injuries have mounted at the position. Hunt, Zavala and Corbett have all had stints on injured reserve, and Zavala is currently on his second stint on the injured list.

If Hunt were to return during the next two weeks, he would give the Panthers some added punch in the trenches. With the NFC South title on the line in Week 18, Hunt’s return could help the Panthers sweep the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to cap off the best Carolina season in a decade.

That outlook has made Hunt’s desire to return even more important.

“I love football,” Hunt said. “I like to play football, and I haven’t played football in a minute. So, I think I would have thought about playing no matter what, because I love the game of football and I want to play, and I like the feeling of what that does. But it would probably be a little different of a conversation than what it is now.”

Other injury updates: Tetairoa McMillan watches workout from sideline

The Panthers practiced without a trio of starters Wednesday.

Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (rest), defensive end Turk Wharton (hamstring) and linebacker Trevin Wallace (shoulder) missed the second walkthrough of the week.

Wharton and Wallace both missed the win over the Buccaneers.

With the Seattle Seahawks coming to town on Sunday, the hope is that Wharton and Wallace could return in time for the final home matchup of the regular season.

If Wharton can’t play, rookie Cam Jackson will continue to see playing time. Another Wallace absence would open up the door for Claudin Cherelus to start again.

Panthers’ Wednesday injury report

Here is the entire Panthers’ injury status report for Wednesday:

Did not participate: DE Turk Wharton (hamstring), LB Trevin Wallace (shoulder), WR Tetairoa McMillan (rest)

Limited participation: G Robert Hunt (IR/biceps)

Full participation: LB Claudin Cherelus (ankle), LT Ikem Ekwonu (knee), CB Jaycee Horn (shoulder), C Cade Mays (elbow), DT Cam Jackson (ankle), WR David Moore (IR/elbow)

Quick hits: The numbers to watch

• Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald needs to make three field goals over the next two weeks to pass Joey Slye for the most field goals by a Panthers rookie in a season. Fitzgerald enters Week 17 with 23 made attempts. Slye had 25 in 2019.
• Running back Rico Dowdle needs just 73 rushing yards over the next games to establish a new single-season career high in rushing yards. Dowdle posted 1,079 rushing yards with the Dallas Cowboys last season. He sits at 1,007 rushing yards entering Week 17.
• Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan needs 85 receiving yards to surpass Kelvin Benjamin for the Panthers’ all-time rookie receiving yards record. McMillan enters Week 17 with 924 receiving yards, while Benjamin collected 1,008 receiving yards in 2014.
• Rookie outside linebacker Nic Scourton needs just one pressure over the next two games to surpass Brian Burns’ single-season rookie record for pressures (the stat has only been in place since 2016). Scourton has 27 pressures on the year, which matches Burns’ total in 2019. Scourton is also second on the entire team with 3.5 sacks and six tackles for loss.