Panthers’ Mike Tolbert doesn’t expect to practice at all this week
By Mike Dyce
The Carolina Panthers are trying to keep their seven game win streak alive when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Bucs are riding their own three game win streak into the match up.
The Panthers might have to play without running back Mike Tolbert, who said he hurt his hamstring on his fourth-quarter 15-yard run to the Miami 6-yard line this past Sunday.
“I feel all right. Hopeful but you know how they are, they’re more long-run than immediate, so we’ll see,” Tolbert said, via the Charlotte Observer. “The way it feels, if we had a game tomorrow, no (I wouldn’t play). But Sunday’s a different story.”
Head coach Ron Rivera also suggested that he had a bruised knee. Because of the injuries, Tolbert said he wouldn’t practice this week in an effort to give his body the most rest possible and to avoid a setback.
Tolbert has carried the ball 69 times fir 253 yards and four touchdowns. He has caught 16 passes for another 104 yards and two touchdowns.
The Panthers are practicing indoors at the Charlotte Convention Center ballroom. Their renovation plans of Bank of America Stadium include plans for an indoor facility.
“It really wouldn’t make sense either because we may lose one or two days outside,” said Rivera, who added the practice fields were too water-logged to practice on after Tuesday’s rain. “The last couple years it’s really only been two or three times. Would you like to have one? Absolutely. Also you’ve got to think about what makes sense.”