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closeCHARLOTTE — Carolina Panthers coach John Fox had little to share Monday regarding injuries from Sunday’s game, the most concerning of which was the knee sprain suffered by wideout D.J. Hackett.
Hackett went down on the first play of the game, blocking for a kickoff return.
Special-teams duties were added to his docket last week because safety Quinton Teal was out with an ankle sprain. Hackett fell awkwardly into Chiefs safety DaJuan Morgan, getting a penalty for a low block in the process.
Hackett’s agent, Kevin Robinson, said Monday that Hackett said “his knee gave out, that’s why he hit the guy low. … I don’t know how long he’ll be out.” Hackett had 10 catches for 131 yards in his first four games. Brought here on a two-year, $3.5 million deal, he’s looked good when he’s been out there, but his own injuries and the Panthers’ scheme has limited his action. The Panthers have run more two-tight-end personnel than normal, cutting into the three-wide opportunities.
A toe problem during training camp limited him to 10 practices during the entire preseason, though he had been healthy during the regular season prior to Sunday. He missed 31 games of 64 in Seattle because of injury.
Also injured Sunday were defensive end Hilee Taylor (knee) and center Ryan Kalil (ankle). When asked if any of the injuries were season-ending, Fox replied: “Really, it would be hard for me to speculate. Again, they’re getting looked at by the medical people. I don’t anticipate (that they’re season-threatening), but that’s just my humble opinion. … So it actually means practically nothing.”
n STAT STUFF: As much as the Panthers’ defense benefited from the shutout, the offense saw a boost in its rankings, as well.
The Panthers moved up from 24th to 14th in yards per game and from 19th to 12th in rushing yards per game. Their passing yards (18th to 15th) didn’t see as big a jump because they didn’t need to throw much.
The Panthers are also first in the league in red-zone defense. They’ve allowed just nine trips inside their own 20-yard line this season (none Sunday), and given up just two touchdowns there.
n ONE VS. TWO: Fox said the decision to start Frank Omiyale at left tackle had more to do with leaving left guard Travelle Wharton at his normal spot. They slid Wharton over to left tackle in midstream the week before when Jordan Gross suffered a concussion, moving backup Geoff Hangartner into left guard.
Instead of sticking with that going into this week, they gave Omiyale not only his first NFL start but his first snap of offense in four seasons.
“Leaving Travelle at guard I think was maybe most beneficial for us,” Fox said. The Panthers built their offseason plan for the running game around Wharton’s power inside, and gave him a six-year, $35 million contract that proved their desire.
n EXTRA POINTS: Fox hates comparing players or teams to those of the past, so he was cringing when asked Monday if the current club reminds him of the 2003 team, which started off 5-0.
“It is hard to compare,” he said. “The only good thing is that we both had good records at this point. So that would be a comparison. The reality, in this league, is that we’re only guaranteed 4-12. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’ve been on teams that were 0-4 and won 11 of the next 12 and went to the playoffs. I’ve been on an 8-2 team that lost six in a row to finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs.
“So when you’re seeing both of those circumstances — I know we’re not at those circumstances now at 4-1 — but I’ve been in this long enough (to know) that the only thing we’re guaranteed now is 4-12.”
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