CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Benefitting from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ improbable loss Thursday night, Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales woke up Friday morning with a new focus, maintaining possession of first place in the NFC South.
The prime-time kickoff time prevented Canales from witnessing the Atlanta Falcons’ fourth-quarter comeback, pulling off an NFL upset at Raymond James Stadium despite committing 19 penalties.
“I watched the first half and, you know, 8 o’clock kicks here, it’s around 10 o’clock,” Canales said during a press conference after Friday’s practice. “Got to sleep with the workday in front of me, and woke up and found out what the score was.”
Falcons 29, Buccaneers 28.
With five losses in six games, the Buccaneers (7-7) have dropped into second place, a half-game behind the Panthers (7-6). Scheduled to meet the Saints (3-10) on Sunday, the Panthers encounter the Bucs twice over the final three regular-season games.
If the Panthers beat the Saints on Sunday and the Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 21, they would clinch their first division title since 2015. Canales said the players’ attention remains on their last-place opponent, which beat the Panthers, 17-7, at home Nov. 9.
“Today was a Focus Friday and we had to be locked in,” Canales said. “Our focus is to make sure we win the day.
“We all watched the game, but we also understand that’s for next week. We play the Bucs next week. We’re playing the Saints this week. We’ve got to have a focus here.”
#Panthers CB Jaycee Horn (8) cleared #NFL concussion protocol, practiced Friday and will play Sunday at #Saints … pic.twitter.com/1djQGybWFf
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) December 13, 2025
Carolina Panthers, Jaycee Horn Getting Healthy
The Panthers are getting closer to full strenghth.
Top cornerback Jaycee Horn and linebacker/special teams ace Claudin Cherelus cleared concussion protocol and are expected to dress Sunday. Center Cade Mays (ankle), linebacker Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring) and safety Lathan Ransom (thumb) also will play, Canales said.
Guard Robert Hunt (torn bicep) and wide receiver David Moore (elbow) are nearing their 21-day practice window to return to the lineup.
While Hunt continues to run on the side, Moore appears close to getting back, possibly Monday.
“We’re going to try to get David out there in a mode to see if he can handle being out there running around,” Canales said. “He’s been running because it’s an elbow injury, so he’s at top speeds. He looks great, but again, he’s going to be blocking. He’s a special teams player as well, so we’ve got to make sure that he’s strong enough, stable enough to be ready for the impact.”
#Panthers guard Robert Hunt (torn bicep) ran on the side of Friday’s NFL practice. The veteran could return before the end of the regular season … pic.twitter.com/WmZ0qLFAhI
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) December 13, 2025
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