Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Gets questionable tag for Sunday
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Gross-Matos (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.
Gross-Matos participated at practice only in a limited capacity the entire week, signaling he's truly questionable for Week 13. If he can't go, it would probably mean more snaps for 2022 sixth-rounder Amare Barno.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Won't be activated Week 12
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Gross-Matos is out for Sunday's game against the Titans.
Gross-Matos' 21-day window to be activated from injured reserve was opened Thursday, but he won't return in Week 12. The linebacker was a limited participant in practice both Thursday and Friday. He will need to be officially activated from IR in order to play in Week 13 against the Buccaneers.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Moving to OLB
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Gross-Matos will move to outside linebacker with Carolina transitioning to a 3-4 defense, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.
New defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is transitioning the Panthers from the 4-3 scheme they had been running the past three seasons. Gross-Matos previously was listed as a defensive end, but in the new system the 2020 second-round pick will need to learn to drop back into coverage more often. During his three-year NFL career, Gross-Matos has racked up 106 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 43 appearances, playing a career-high 806 defensive snaps in 2022 as he moved into a starting role.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Tending to hamstring injury
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Gross-Matos is dealing with a hamstring injury and hasn't been available for OTAs, Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Head coach Matt Rhule wasn't able to offer a timeline for Gross-Matos' return to the field. The 24-year-old is a projected starter at defensive end heading into 2022 and will be looking to build off a 2021 campaign in which he notched 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks over 14 games.
Gross-Matos was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.
Gross-Matos was unable to play in the Panthers' season finale against the Buccaneers, but now that he's cleared protocols, he can return to the team facilities. In his second season, Matos finished with 28 tackles (18 solo), 3.5 sacks, a pass defensed and a forced fumble across 14 games.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list
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Gross-Matos (illness) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Darin Gantt of Panthers' official site reports.
The defensive end likely will be unavailable for Week 18 against the Buccaneers. Gross-Matos will need to clear league protocols before the weekend, and if he can't, Marquis Haynes and Azur Kamara could play larger roles Sunday.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Productive day versus Bills
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Gross-Matos finished with five tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in Sunday's 31-14 loss to the Bills.
Gross-Matos, a second-round pick last year, enjoyed his most disruptive performance as a pro, hitting opposing quarterback Josh Allen three times and jarring the ball loose once. Although the Panthers weren't able to recover that fumble, with 2.5 sacks Sunday, Gross-Matos matched his entire rookie-year total. The edge defender will now strive to build on his momentum over Carolina's final three contests.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: To miss second straight
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Gross-Matos (ankle) is inactive Week 4 against the Cowboys.
No surprises here, as the reserve defensive end entered the week with a "doubtful" tag. The next chance for Gross-Matos to suit up will be a home matchup against the Eagles in Week 5.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Suiting up Sunday
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Gross-Matos (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Lions, Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site reports.
Gross-Matos shook off a shoulder injury that kept him limited in practice, and he's expected to start at defensive end for a second straight game. The rookie second-round pick recorded five tackles in his first career start last week.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: In line for first career start
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Gross-Matos will log his first career NFL start during Sunday's matchup against the Buccaneers, Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer reports.
With Stephen Weatherly (finger) officially having been placed on injured reserve Saturday afternoon, Gross-Matos garners an opportunity to prove himself at one of the Panthers' defensive end spots. Gross-Matos himself was just activated from IR on Nov. 7, after he was sidelined for three weeks due to an ankle issue. The second-round rookie from Penn State has notched one sack, seven tackles and a forced fumble through five appearances this season.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Designated for return
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Gross-Matos (ankle) was designated to return from injured reserve Thursday.
The second-round rookie landed on injured reserve Oct. 15, and he has sat out each of the Panthers' past three contests as a result. Now having been designated for return, Gross-Matos has a 21-day window to resume practice before the team must either activate him to the 53-man roster or place him on season-ending IR. In four appearances between Weeks 1 and 5, the Penn State product recorded six tackles, one QB hit and one forced fumble on 78 combined defensive snaps.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Leaving with ankle injury
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Gross-Matos exited Sunday's game against the Falcons with an ankle injury, Myles Simmons of the Panthers' official site reports.
The rookie second-round pick had only one tackle on the day before exiting the contest. Gross-Matos' status for Week 6 should receive more clarity once the Panthers return to practice Wednesday.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Sheds injury tag
Rotowire
Gross-Matos (illness) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Gross-Matos logged a DNP/DNP/LP practice slate this week while dealing with an illness, but his availability for Sunday's contest isn't in any danger. The rookie second-round pick is set to draw his usual start at defensive end.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Misses practice with illness
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Gross-Matos (illness) didn't practice Wednesday, Myles Simmons of the Panthers' official site reports.
Gross-Matos has had some tough luck with his health this season, as he has already battled an eye injury and a concussion prior to this illness. Whether he's able to raise his practice participation as the week unfolds should help determine the rookie second-rounder's status for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Expected to play Sunday
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Gross-Matos (concussion) was a full participant during Thursday's practice.
Even though Gross-Matos was a full participant, it still doesn't mean that he has cleared the league's concussion protocol. Per Alaina Getzenberg of The Charlotte Observer, coach Matt Rhule expects Gross-Matos to play Sunday against the Chargers, but in a backup role. Look for Stephen Weatherly or Marquis Haynes to draw the start at defensive end with Gross-Matos still recovering.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Limited with eye injury
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Gross-Matos (eye) was limited in Wednesday's practice, Alaina Getzenberg of The Charlotte Observer reports.
It's encouraging that Gross-Matos was at least able to practice in some capacity, though the exact nature of his eye injury is unknown at this time. The rookie pass rusher will hope to make a bigger impact against Tampa Bay in Week 2 after recording only one tackle in his debut last week.
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Panthers' Yetur Gross-Matos: Carolina bound
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The Panthers selected Gross-Matos in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 38th overall.
This is an excellent fit for Carolina as it adds another young and talented pass rusher to pair with 2019 first-rounder Brian Burns. Gross-Matos was a force at Penn State, using his length (34.88-inch arms) and explosive get-off to rack up 17.5 sacks and 35 tackles for loss over his final two seasons. Look for Gross-Matos to push Stephen Weatherly for snaps right away.
