CHARLOTTE – The Panthers don't have anyone listed as "out" for their regular season finale in Atlanta, but according to head coach Ron Rivera, there is some "concern" about safety Kurt Coleman's sore ankle.
"He was limited today, and we had hoped to see him move around a little bit more," Rivera said after Friday's practice.
The Panthers have already clinched a playoff spot, but they could finish as high as the NFC's No. 2 seed and as low as the No. 5 seed. So they have to weigh whether it's worth playing Coleman. If they decide to hold him out, Jairus Byrd will get his first start of the season.
The Panthers listed two others as questionable: cornerback LaDarius Gunter has an illness and right guard Trai Turner is still in the concussion protocol. But Rivera said Turner is "finishing up" the last stage of the protocol and Carolina remains confident he'll be cleared.
The Panthers also activated defensive end Charles Johnson, who was suspended the past four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. In a corresponding move, they waived linebacker Spencer Paysinger.
