#carolina-panthers

#carolina-panthers

One problem with the NFL trade deadline is that it's too early for some teams to make hard-and-fast decisions -- even though it has been moved back a week. The Panthers, for instance, enter Week 9 with a 4-4 record. Should they add? Should they trade players for draft picks? The answer probably depends on their outlook for the rest of the season, and whether they're real contenders now or still at least a year away. As a result, they probably stand pat this week.

Dalton is happy in his role as Bryce Young's backup at Carolina, which is above .500 (4-3) for the first time this late in the season since 2019. The soon-to-be 38-year-old is ready for an opportunity to start, which appears likely Sunday against the Buffalo Bills ( 1 p.m. ET, Fox), as Young is dealing with a sprained ankle suffered in the third quarter of Sunday's 13-6 win at the New York Jets.

Wide receiver Jalen Coker will be active for the first time this season when the Carolina Panthers face the New York Jets on Sunday in the Meadowlands. Coker missed the first six games with a hamstring injury. He was designated in August to replace Adam Thielen as the third starter behind Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette after the veteran was traded to the Minnesota Vikings.

Statistically speaking, the New England Patriots outplayed the Pittsburgh Steelers in all three phases of the game on Sunday. The Patriots dominated the game in just about every major category. But the only one that truly counts is on the scoreboard, and the Patriots came up short in that facet. The big reason for that? Turnovers. The Patriots gave the ball away five times, including a pair of fumbles by running back Rhamondre Stevenson, one of which cost New England a touchdown.

There was starting center Austin Corbett, barely able to walk with his left knee heavily bandaged, helping guard Robert Hunt pull a shirt over his left arm that forced him to leave the 27-22 loss in the fourth quarter with a biceps injury. Beyond Young overcoming a two-turnover start that led to a 27-3 deficit, there was the cold reality that Corbett and Hunt could miss extended time, if not the rest of a season, which has begun 0-2.

Carolina Panthers second-round pick Nic Scourton is week-to-week after suffering a collapsed lung in Thursday's joint practice against the Texans in Houston. The edge rusher out of Texas A&M originally was diagnosed with heat-related symptoms following the session. Coach Dave Canales revealed after Saturday's 20-3 preseason loss to the Texans that the 20-year-old was taken to Memorial Hermann Medical Center in Houston for observations, where it was determined he had suffered the collapsed lung.

Ja'Tavion Sanders believes that he and rookie Mitchell Evans will lead a dynamic tight end group for the Panthers, bringing new energy and matchup challenges to defenses.