The Carolina Panthers are getting a big lift ahead of the playoffs.
Head coach Dave Canales revealed Thursday that offensive guard Robert Hunt is likely to play in Saturdayâs NFC Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Rams (4:30 p.m. ET).
Hunt, a former Pro Bowler, has been on injured reserve since Week 3 due to a torn biceps. The Panthers opened his 21-day practice window on Dec. 24, a key hurdle in his return to the field.
âWeâre not putting him out there part time,â Canales said, via ESPN. âIf heâs playing, heâs playing. Heâs fired up to help his teammates.â
Star Lineman Has Missed Most of Season With Injury
Hunt joined the Panthers on a five-year, $100 million agreement in March 2024. Since starting 16 games and making the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Panthers, the 6-foot-6, 323-pound Hunt has struggled to stay healthy.
He tore his biceps in a Week 2 loss to the Cardinals, sidelining him for the rest of the regular season. The Panthers rotated several different players at right guard in the process, with Chandler Zavala, Jake Curhan, Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett all taking snaps in Huntâs absence.
Prior to his arrival in Carolina, Hunt spent his first four seasons with the Dolphins. He appeared in 61 games with 55 starts, setting himself up for a big payday.
Hunt’s Expected Return is Big Boost for Panthers
Huntâs return is shaping up to be a big boost for the Panthers, who managed just 285 total yards in their Week 18 loss to the Buccaneers.
The Panthers went just 8-9 but won the NFC South by virtue of a three-way tiebreaker with Tampa Bay and Atlanta. Their negative-69 point differential is the fourth-worst for any playoff team in NFL history, making them a longshot to beat the 12-5 Rams.
An underperforming offense didnât help matters. Carolina ranked just 27th in both yards per game (295.6) and scoring average (18.3).
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