EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales said Wednesday the team is preparing to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday without top outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips.Canales didn't offer a timeline for Phillips (hamstring) to return, but he avoided any gamesmanship on Phillips' status for Week 7.When asked if the expectation was that Phillips would miss this week, with a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Green Bay Packers on deck for Week 8, Canales noted that Phillips, who reinjured his left injury hamstring in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles, needed to be treated with caution."I think I can fairly say that," Canales said about Phillips missing Week 7. "I know there are advantages to game plans, but this is something that we need to address and take care of."Phillips left Sunday's win in the first half but returned late in the third quarter. On Wednesday, Phillips walked around the perimeter of the Panthers' practice field while his teammates participated in a walkthrough."Jaelan got that same hamstring [injury] -- we've got to take care of that now," Canales said. "So, we're going to still push it and evaluate him, but this is something we're going to have to be smart with. Two weeks off of the first injury and then he was able to finish the game, which was incredible for him to go back out there and do his job. But the MRIs, the findings, this is something that we're going to have to treat more intensively."Phillips, who signed a four-year, $120 million deal in March, has produced 2.5 sacks on the season. The former Miami Dolphins and Eagles pass rusher was brought in, along with inside linebacker Devin Lloyd, to turn around a middling Carolina defense.But this Sunday, like Lloyd in Week 3's loss to the Cleveland Browns, Phillips will need to watch from the sideline as he recovers from injury.Canales declined to speculate whether Phillips would be able to play at Green Bay next week. For now, though, with Phillips and special teams ace Thomas Incoom (calf) sidelined, the Panthers plan to call up practice squad linebacker Nick Hampton. The former Los Angeles Rams pass rusher is known for his special teams ability, and he recently returned to the Panthers after being cut with an undisclosed injury during training camp"It's the reason why we brought him back, and he was having a great camp before he had the injury," Canales said. "So, we're excited to see Nick this week, and then some of the other guys that we've been working with, they've got to be ready if we go that direction with more guys."Incoom, according to Canales, is considered week-to-week and won't be immediately placed on injured reserve. Incoom was injured against the Eagles and Canales said it took four players to fill his role on special teams throughout the remainder of the Week 6 win.Along with Phillips and Incoom, running back Chuba Hubbard, right tackle Taylor Moton and tight ends Tommy Tremble and Darren Waller were given veteran rest days. Running back AJ Dillon (ankle) and offensive tackle Monroe Freeling (knee) were full participants after missing the previous week of practice and the win over the Eagles.Quarterback Bryce Young (knee) was on the injury report, but he was a full participant as in previous weeks.
