NEW ORLEANS — The Carolina Panthers head into a division game at Caesars Superdome on Sunday with a key receiver back and a losing streak to snap, facing a Saints team that enters with the same number of wins.
Before the team left Charlotte, it moved wide receiver Xavier Legette off injured reserve. He had been sidelined by a knee injury suffered in the Week 2 win over Atlanta, a game in which he caught a 55-yard pass. Cornerbacks Marco Wilson and Corey Thornton were also elevated from the practice squad to shore up a thin secondary. Three others in their return windows, offensive lineman Brady Christensen, cornerback Mike Jackson and running back Jonathon Brooks, stayed on reserve and are out.
Both clubs sit at three wins. Carolina has dropped three straight, while New Orleans broke its own three-game slide earlier in the year and is coming off an overtime win over Cleveland. The Panthers have not won in New Orleans since the final week of the 2022 season, and quarterback Bryce Young is 1-5 against the Saints in his career.
Young comes in hot after throwing for 276 yards and three touchdowns on 28-of-39 passing in Week 9. He averages 274.6 passing yards a game, and the tight end group has caught seven touchdown passes, with Darren Waller leading the team at four. The New Orleans pass defense ranks 28th, allowing 236.6 yards a game through the air.
Up front, left guard Damien Lewis is set to return after missing two games with a knee issue. The Saints counter with the most productive pass-rushing pair in the league, Chase Young and Carl Granderson, who have combined for 15.5 sacks.
Carolina may find openings on the other side of the ball. The Saints ruled out starting right tackle Taliese Fuaga and starting center Erik McCoy, and they traded defensive tackle Davon Godchaux to Jacksonville this week.
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