Panthers will re-evaluate Damien Lewis this week
Left guard Damien Lewis was sidelined for Sunday’s game against the Jets, but Canales shared on Monday that they tried all the way up until game day to get the starting guard on the field.
“We tried to get him back on Sunday. We took it all the way to game day, tested (his) strength” Canales said.
Lewis was hampered by a shoulder injury that occurred during individual drills last Thursday at practice. He was listed as questionable for the game, but was unable to progress quickly enough to play. Canales told reporters Sunday after the game that the timing was fortuitous given interior lineman Austin Corbett‘s return from injured reserve. Corbett started the season as the center, before a knee injury in Week 2. Cade Mays took over the role, and given Lewis’ injury this week, coaches elected to slot Corbett, a longtime starting guard, into that spot.
“We just couldn’t get (Damien’s) strength back to a point where we felt safe about playing and putting him out there and You know, the, the beautiful timing of Austin Corbett coming back and you know I got to watch the film, but you know, firs, 1st impression is that Austin did a great job just continuing to allow us to play our style of offense.”
As the Panthers prepare to play the Buffalo Bills in Week 8, they will test Lewis this week to see if he could be available on Sunday against a front that includes Ed Oliver, Joey Bosa, and former Panther Shaq Thompson.
“We’ll have him in there doing some rehab,” said Canales, “and the hope is to get him back out there.”