CHARLOTTE —The Panthers are thankful this week, as they continue to receive good news about tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders. The rookie suffered a neck injury on Sunday after landing on his head when being tackled out of bounds. He was taken to the hospital during the game for tests and released that afternoon.

Canales told reporters on Monday that they would continue to evaluate Sanders through the week and provide more of an update on Wednesday.

Wednesday arrived, and Canales did just that, telling reporters, "a bunch of great news about just his injury overall and where he's at."

Sanders was not able to practice on Wednesday, thought he was on the field with his teammates as an observer. Canales said they will try to get him on the field Thursday to see what he can do.

As for Sunday against the Buccaneers though, don't expect to see the rookie.

"Just the recovery of, you know, just a real high impact play that happened, I wouldn't anticipate JT playing this week."

Another rookie likely not on the field against the Bucs, receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps), who also did not play this past week against the Chiefs. The strain popped up on Coker late last week in practice.

"Coker is still working through a quad," Canales said. "We weren't able to get him to even test him on Sunday, so we put him right into a return to play protocol, following the game on Monday and so he'll remain there. We don't expect him to be playing this week."

Horn game-planning for officials so he can keep playing physical

Jaycee Horn knew even ahead of Sunday's game against the Chiefs, that he was going to have to be a little more careful.

"Coming into the game, the coaches talked to us about the referee staff, and I think they were like second in the league in DPI and holding (calls)," Horn explained Sunday night after the 30-27 loss to Kansas City. "So, I knew coming into the game, what type of game it was. I tried to talk to the ref before the game and let him know (Chiefs receiver DeAndre Hopkins) going to push, I'm going to pull, I'm going to grab and pull."

The physical matchup between Hopkins and Horn lasted from opening snap until the end of the game. With an early onslaught of calls, Horn admittedly backed off his game a bit, hoping to reduce the penalty yardage. In the third quarter though, he had one of his more costly penalties of the day, resulting in the most demonstrative reaction.

On third down, with just over five minutes remaining in the third-quarter, Horn broke up a pass intended for Hopkins. It would've been a 57-yard field goal if the Chiefs had felt inclined to try it with their untested kicker, or a punt. Instead, Horn was called for defensive pass-interference.

"It's kind of frustrating as a corner, especially like my game is playing physical," Horn said after the game. "So, when they call it like that early on, kind of make you play a little timid, just try not to be as handsy. But it is what it is, you know, it's no excuse. I just got to be better."

The spot foul only moved the Chiefs up 5 yards, but the fresh set of downs proved a difference maker. Kansas City capped the drive with a touchdown throw to Hopkins.

Since Sunday, Horn has had a chance to watch the film and assess how much of his game should've stayed the same and how much was justifiably changed, given what he knew of the crew from game planning.

"That crew, like I said, they call PI's and holding so I mean it might have been on brand for them. But when I looked at it, I think they could have got me on one or two," Horn admitted of the calls he earned. "But a couple of them for sure they could have let ride out but, you know, they throw flags, that's what they do and it is a little, like I said, I just got to do a better job knowing this, knowing the referee crew and adjusting my game to them."

Game planning also means knowing how certain receivers will play. While the Panthers are still waiting on their notes about the crew for this coming Sunday, Horn is already preparing for how Mike Evans can antagonize a defender.

"He a little pushy too like Hop. They're big guys, they know how to separate. So, it's the NFL, you play good receivers damn near every week," Horn noted. "So, for me, it's just another match up and I feel like if I'm locked in, I play my best game."

And the best way to be locked in?

"Just playing clean football, you know, (Mike's) been doing it a long time. He got a lot of little savvy things he do just like Adam (Thielen), drawing the PI."

Everyone preparing for Vita Vea this week

When scouting Vita Vea, it would seem natural to focus on offensive players. After all, they are the ones who have to block and counteract Vea, the Pro Bowl nose tackle, who currently leads his team with six sacks. And those offensive players are aware of the man they need to have a bead on at all times.

"Tremendous player, he's been doing that for a really long time," quarterback Bryce Young said this week of Vea. "I have a ton of respect for him. We all do, great player. From my standpoint, I have all the trust in the world and my offensive line, I believe in them."

Added running back Chuba Hubbard, "Bit body, can two gap, good with his hands, good run stuffer. That whole defense as a whole is really good. They fly around, got a lot of vets out there."

But now, the offensive players aren't the only ones forced to prepare for Vea. This week, the defense has to give at least a modicum of attention to the NT, because the Bucs have proved they're not afraid to trot their 6-4, 347-pound lineman out as a lead blocker at fullback on the goal line, as they did Sunday against the Giants.

"Cut him," offered corner Mike Jackson right away, as the best plan of action. "It's like, for me, I done got ran over by a lineman, so it's literally like just run up, bite down on your mouthpiece and try to set the edge."

The Panthers preach finish, on every play, in every game, in every situation. So for those watching the tape this week of Vea mauling people on both sides of the ball, that message resonates.

"Plays like that happen rarely, but if a team sees you're scared to hit a lineman, then they're going to do that every time until you show that you're not," Jackson continued. "You just got to bow up and do it. Take one for the team."

Rivalry Week? Or Thanksgiving Week?

It's arguably one of the best weeks of the year, when Thanksgiving day, with all of its delicious food and full slate of NFL football, rolls into a weekend of nothing but college football rivalry games.

The Panthers locker room is ready for both, and the smack talk amongst teammates who played at different schools has hit a crescendo this week, as Jadeveon Clowney told people this week. He also laid down some talk of his own, as his South Carolina Gamecocks get ready to take on the Clemson Tigers, hoping for a shot to sneak into the College Football Playoffs.

"It's (going to be) 24-14 our way—or 35-14 our way," Clowney threw out, before arguing the Gamecocks—currently ranked 15^th—should make the 12-team playoffs if they win Saturday against the 12^th ranked Tigers.

Horn was even more absolute with his argument.

"South Carolina, big dog, going to the playoffs," Horn said. "That's my prediction. Clemson going home."

The Iron Bowl might have lost some of its luster, now that Alabama has three losses and is on the outside looking in, facing a struggling Auburn team. Alabama product A'Shawn Robinson just scoffed when looking ahead to the game, before instead bringing up Iron Bowl's of the past.

The former Alabama Heisman winner, Bryce Young, focused a bit more on the food that is on the table for the games.

"I'm not a big turkey guy, honestly," Young admitted. "I used to like ham a lot when I was a kid. I don't eat pork anymore. But when I was a kid, I did used to like ham, but now I don't know, low key mac and cheese, yams."

Adam Thielen quickly offered mashed potatoes and gravy as the best side, before getting into a heated debate on what distinguishes stuffing from dressing.

David Moore, who attended East Central University in Oklahoma, posed another side as the best though.

"I will say this. I got introduced to green bean casserole when I was in college," Moore said, whistling his approval. "Oh, yeah, I would say green bean casserole is one of the good ones."

We'll ignore the fact no one said the best side, sweet potato casserole. Regardless, we wish them and you all a very Happy Thanksgiving full of food and football.