Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is expected to miss four to six weeks with a high ankle sprain.
The back said that the injury occurred near the end of the third quarter of Sunday’s loss at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He to tried to play on it, but realized after scoring his second touchdown with 13:30 remaining that the injury getting worse.
The All-Pro running back was removed from the game in the fourth quarter following the touchdown and backup Mike Davis filled his spot.
“As soon as the third quarter ended, I went and got taped, tried to play it off, played a couple plays, and just realized that I wasn’t 100%,” McCaffrey said. “I went over to the sideline, and it started getting worse and worse and I realized that it would be inefficient if I continued to play due to the level that I was at. They kind of addressed it and told me to sit out and then I’d be out for the game.”
McCaffrey, 24, said Monday that he hopes he can come back sooner than the four-to-six week projections.
“I think the biggest thing you can do right now is stay strong and fight through it,” McCaffrey said. “They say four to six weeks, well that’s a challenge to me. Hopefully I can get back a lot earlier than that, but I’m gonna attack this just like I attack anything else and go from there.”
The former first-round pick had pulled himself out of the game earlier in the day, but head coach Matt Rhule said that was unrelated to the injury late in the game. The only ankle injury he had ever previously suffered was an ankle sprain in high school in Colorado.
Davis played the final three series and will be the team’s starting back in McCaffrey’s absence.
“Mike Davis is starting tailback in the National Football League. He got out there yesterday, made some great catches, was physical. He was ready when his number was called and he’ll play well in Christian’s absence, “ Rhule said. “He’s a big back, he runs with power, he runs good routes, has good hands, can block. He’s really intelligent, he’ll play well for us.”
Davis has never been a full-time starting back in the NFL before. He was originally drafted in fourth-round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, but has bounced around to different teams, spending time with the Seahawks and Bears. Davis has started 10 NFL games throughout his career and played in 49. He averages 3.6 yards per attempt.
Carolina only has one other running back on the active roster — special teams player Trenton Cannon. Reggie Bonnafon is on the practice squad and is likely to be signed to the active roster.
“Reggie is a really good player, and he could step in right away and help us,” Rhule said.
Putting McCaffrey on injured reserve is a possibility. Players only are required to remain on the list for a minimum of three weeks and an unlimited number of players can be taken off throughout the season. Rhule said they hope to have a plan at the position by Wednesday’s practice, but McCaffrey said he’ll be supporting whoever is out there.
“I won’t be on the field, but I’ll still approach the game the same way, I’ll still be there for my teammates,” McCaffrey said. “I’ll focus my in-game or in-practice energy to the rehab. And that’s kind of how I’ll go about it. But I’m going to be the same guy, I’m not going to make a drastic change, I’m going to do everything I can to get this ankle better, so that I can come back and start playing again.”
The Panthers have a tough schedule ahead. Carolina travels out west to play the Chargers this week, hosts the Cardinals and then plays three division games over the following four weeks: at Falcons, vs. Bears, at Saints, vs. Falcons.
The running back has never missed a game in his three-plus year NFL career. McCaffrey has been responsible for four of the team’s five touchdowns this season. He had 18 carries for 59 yards and four receptions for 29 yards vs. the Bucs.
“It sucks. I mean, to be 100% transparent, anytime you get injured it’s a horrible thing. You play football to play, not to sit out,” McCaffrey said. “This is part of the game and it happens, but I don’t believe in coincidences. I think everything happens for a reason. I think everything is perspective and attitude. And when you look at it you can win or you learn and right now is a learning experience for me.”
McCaffrey plays a huge role in the Panthers’ offense with Rhule describing him earlier in the year as a player he wants to build the team around. He signed a four-year, $64 million extension this offseason and is the highest-paid running back in NFL history. In both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, he played over 90% of the team’s offensive snaps.
The Panthers have already seen numerous starters suffer injuries early in the season with defensive tackle Kawann Short (foot), guard Dennis Daley (ankle) and rookie defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (concussion) all missing time.
“Christian’s a special player, but even more so, he’s a special person. And I know how badly he wants to be out there for his team. After the game, I mean he was upset that he wasn’t out there to help us at the very end,” Rhule said. “This is the National Football League, hopefully we get (Kawann Short) back this week, hopefully we get some other guys back this week. Guys have to step up when their number is called and I have a lot of confidence in Mike and Reggie and anybody else that we bring in.”
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