Rookie RB Darrin Reaves to start for banged-up Carolina Panthers

Rookie Darrin Reaves will make his first NFL start on Sunday for the Carolina Panthers, who will be without their top four running backs when they host the Chicago Bears.

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“I’m starting to be able to live my dreams out, and that’s a good feeling,” said Reaves via The Associated Press. “Not under the circumstances we have, with so many guys dinged up, but it’s still a good feeling.”

Carolina (2-2) will be without DeAngelo Williams (high ankle sprain), Jonathan Stewart (knee) and Mike Tolbert (knee) while Fozzy Whittaker (quad) is listed as questionable. The Panthers are ranked 29th in the NFL in rushing, averaging just 71 yards per game.

Reaves, who played his college ball at Alabama-Birmingham, rushed for 26 yards on 12 carries after replacing Williams during the Panthers’ 38-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday. Carolina did add some depth to the position by signing Chris Ogbonnaya earlier this week. Ogbonnaya has appeared in 46 games during his five-year career with the St. Louis Rams, Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns.

The Panthers are hoping that Whittaker can suit up on Sunday, as Ogbonnaya is still becoming familiar with the playbook. Williams will have the cast removed off his ankle on Friday, yet it will not be known until early next week as to when the team’s leading rusher will be available. Sunday will mark the third game this season that Williams has missed.

If there is an upside for the Panthers, it’s that the Bears are ranked 22nd against the run.

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