CHARLOTTE — Wide receiver Curtis Samuel is inactive for the Week 6 matchup against the Bears after being listed as questionable with a knee injury.
Samuel, who's tied for the league lead with 11 receptions on third down, was a limited participant in practice all week. Wide receiver Seth Roberts is expected to see increased snaps Sunday in Samuel's absence. The recently activated Keith Kirkwood could also be involved on offense.
With Christian McCaffrey out with a high ankle sprain, Samuel had been helping out at running back recently, notably taking a third-down handoff 17 yards in the fourth quarter of last week's win over the Falcons.
Running back Trenton Cannon is Carolina's backup to Mike Davis for Sunday's game.
Meanwhile, cornerback Eli Apple (hamstring) is out for the second straight week.
Cornerback Donte Jackson (toe) and defensive tackle Zach Kerr (toe) were both questionable but are active and expected to start. Jackson had to exit last week's game after only one snap with his toe injury. Rookie corner Troy Pride Jr. will take over for Jackson if he has to leave the game again.
Kerr is starting in place of defensive tackle Kawann Short, who was added to the reserve/injured list with a season-ending shoulder injury earlier this week.
PJ Walker will serve as the Panthers' backup quarterback for the second time this season. His only other contest as QB-2 was in Week 2 against the Buccaneers.
Of the three players Carolina added to the 53-man roster on Saturday, Kirkwood and defensive end Austin Larkin are active. Defensive tackle Woodrow Hamilton is inactive.
Below are the full lists of inactives for both teams:
CAROLINA
- QB Will Grier
- WR Curtis Samuel
- CB Eli Apple
- G Dennis Daley
- DT Woodrow Hamilton
CHICAGO
- CB Duke Shelley
- S Deon Bush
- LG Arlington Hambright
- WR Riley Ridley
- OLB Trevis Gipson
