Saints Prepare for Panthers Clash Amid Injuries and Tribute to Bayham
WHO:
neworleanssaints.com - Saints edge rushers Chase Young and Carl Granderson have combined for 15.5 sacks; Young has eight sacks and Granderson 7.5.
neworleanssaints.com - Young also has 13 quarterback hits, five tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and four passes defensed. He said opponents are having trouble with his “speed to power.”
neworleanssaints.com - Granderson said he uses moves including a swim move, ghost move and power rush.
neworleanssaints.com - Saints owner and CEO Gayle Benson said Michael Bayham served his community and Louisiana through local and state government, and extended condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the St. Bernard Parish community.
neworleanssaints.com - Cesar Ruiz is expected to move from right guard to center in place of injured Erik McCoy. Ruiz said playing center feels natural and compared the switch to “riding a bike.”
neworleanssaints.com - The New Orleans Saints (3-5) are preparing to host the Carolina Panthers (3-5) in Week 10.
panthers.com - Panthers linebacker Bobby Okereke (foot) was ruled out after missing the week of practice; it is his second consecutive missed game.
panthers.com - Panthers outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (hamstring) and cornerback Will Lee III (hamstring) were listed as questionable. Phillips practiced fully Friday; Lee was limited.
panthers.com - Panthers left guard Damien Lewis (knee) practiced fully and had no injury designation.
panthers.com - Brady Christensen (hamstring) and Xavier Legette (knee) were questionable; Mike Jackson (groin) and Jonathon Brooks (groin) were doubtful. All four are in practice windows before possible activation from injured reserve.
panthers.com - Will Lee III said he is comfortable playing aggressive press coverage, which he played at Texas A&M. He said, “My favorite thing about press is really just disrupt timing.”
neworleanssaints.com - Saints owner and CEO Gayle Benson said Louisiana State Representative Michael Bayham was a lifelong St. Bernard Parish resident, Saints fan and season-ticket holder. Benson said Bayham’s “presence and enthusiasm will be missed.”
neworleanssaints.com - Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and linebacker Kaden Elliss discussed the team’s run-defense improvements; Elliss led the Saints with 11 tackles against Cleveland.
WHAT:
neworleanssaints.com - Granderson became the only player in Saints franchise history to record at least 1.5 sacks in four consecutive games, and the first NFL player to do so since 2013.
neworleanssaints.com - Young and Granderson are positioned to become the eighth Saints tandem to each record at least 10 sacks in a season.
panthers.com - Carolina’s previous use of its silver-helmet, white-jersey and white-pants uniform combination came in a 2021 Week 17 game in New Orleans. Chuba Hubbard had 17 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown in that game.
neworleanssaints.com - New Orleans rushed for 160 yards in its overtime win over Cleveland.
neworleanssaints.com - Before the bye, the Saints averaged 86 rushing yards and 3.5 yards per carry; against Pittsburgh in Paris, they gained 18 yards on 17 carries.
neworleanssaints.com - Pete Werner recorded 11 tackles, including three solo, against Cleveland. He has 65 tackles, 2.0 sacks and two pass defenses through eight games, and reached double-digit tackles in three of his last four outings.
panthers.com - Panthers Radio Network coverage begins at 10:00 a.m. ET, with an hour of postgame coverage hosted by Jim Szoke; Spanish-language radio coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. ET.
neworleanssaints.com - New Orleans listed 12 players on its Friday injury report. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. returned to practice while on Reserve/Injured.
neworleanssaints.com - The Saints beat Cleveland 23-22 in overtime, earning their second win in three games.
neworleanssaints.com - Against Cleveland, New Orleans allowed 95 rushing yards on 34 carries, 2.8 yards per carry, with a longest run of 12 yards. Before that game, the Saints allowed 139.4 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry; they ranked 29th at 133.9 yards allowed per game afterward.
panthers.com - Carolina’s Week 9 cornerbacks Marco Wilson and Corey Thornton drew four pass-interference penalties; Lee had three pass-interference penalties through seven games.
panthers.com - Carolina plans to wear silver helmets, white jerseys and pants, and white accessories. The combination was last used in a 2021 Week 17 game in New Orleans.
WHERE:
neworleanssaints.com - The game is at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
panthers.com - The Panthers’ practice facility is the Atrium Health Training Facility in Charlotte.
WHEN:
panthers.com - The Panthers-Saints game is scheduled for Sunday, November 15 at 1:00 p.m. ET; the Saints’ guide lists the kickoff as noon CT.
panthers.com - FOX will televise the game. Panthers local radio coverage is on 99.7 FM in Charlotte; Spanish-language radio is on WXNC 97.3 FM.
WHY:
neworleanssaints.com - A Saints win would give New Orleans sole possession of first place in the NFC South and improve its record to .500.
panthers.com - Carolina is seeking its first win in New Orleans since the 2022 season.
HOW:
neworleanssaints.com - Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley has sometimes aligned Young and Granderson on the same side to create pass-rushing matchups; Young said the defense uses protections to try to create one-on-one opportunities.
panthers.com - Will Lee III said he seeks to disrupt timing by pressing receivers and forcing them off their routes. He said Jaycee Horn advises him to be patient, trust his speed and length, and play to his strengths.
panthers.com - Panthers interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash’s approach emphasizes attacking: defensive linemen get vertical and edge defenders play aggressively near the line of scrimmage.
neworleanssaints.com - Staley said the Saints improved against the run by executing their existing defensive schemes and fundamentals better, rather than adding new defenses.
New Orleans hosts Carolina seeking a third win in four games and NFC South’s lead. Saints edge rushers Chase Young and Carl Granderson have combined for 15.5 sacks. New Orleans tightened its run defense against Cleveland, allowing just 95 rushing yards.