CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers coach Matt Rhule said that while he doesn’t anticipate running back Christian McCaffrey playing on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a shoulder injury, he doesn’t expect him to miss the rest of the season.
Rhule said McCaffrey has a separation of the AC joint, which is located at the tip of the shoulder where the shoulder blade and collarbone meet. The bones are connected by ligaments.
“It looks like Christian probably won’t play,” Rhule said. “I wouldn’t say that is 100% percent, but I would say it looks like he’s pretty much out for this week and we will see how it is next week.”
McCaffrey did not practice on Wednesday.
McCaffrey is getting a second medical opinion on his shoulder, but Rhule doesn’t anticipate the 2019 All-Pro, who has already missed six games with a high ankle sprain, will miss all of the final seven games.
“I’m not anticipating that,” Rhule said. “I’m anticipating from I know being much more day to day and week to week than that. But those are doctors and they have to do what’s right and Christian has to do what is best for him. I have not entertained that thought” of McCaffrey missing the entire season.
McCaffrey injured the shoulder in the fourth quarter of Carolina’s 33-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
McCaffrey returned to action on Sunday after missing six games with a high ankle sprain.
He carried 18 times for 69 yards and caught 10 passes for 82 yards while scoring two touchdowns against the defending Super Bowl champions before leaving the game on the final drive when he was tackled and landed on his shoulder.
McCaffrey has six touchdowns in the three games he’s played this season, including two in a 31-17 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 2.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.