Panthers hire Turner as offensive coordinator
There will be a Turner family reunion in Charlotte.
The Carolina Panthers hired Norv Turner on Friday as their new offensive coordinator to replace Mike Shula, who was fired earlier in the week after seven seasons with the team.
Turner, 65 inherits an offense that includes a unique talent in quarterback Cam Newton, versatile running back Christian McCaffrey, reliable tight end Greg Olsen and a solid offensive line. However, while the Panthers finished 12th in the league scoring in 2017, they were just 28th in passing.
He’s the latest member of the Turner family to join the Panthers.
His brother, Ron Turner, works as the team’s offensive consultant and nephew Cameron is the assistant quarterbacks coach. Turner is expected to bring son Scott Turner on as quarterbacks coach.
Ron Rivera worked as defensive coordinator for Turner when he was the head coach of the San Diego Chargers before Rivera joined the Panthers as head coach in 2011. They have remained close friends.
“Norv has coached Hall of Famers, he’s set a lot of people on the career paths that they’ve had,” Rivera said in a news release Friday. “I’m excited about his knowledge and his offensive prowess. It’s going to be invaluable to us have him evaluate our personnel and help take our quarterback to another level.”
Turner comes to Carolina with a wealth of experience, having coached 32 seasons in the NFL, including 15 seasons as a head coach and 11 as an offensive coordinator. As offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys (1991-93), he helped the Cowboys win two Super Bowls.
He last worked with the Minnesota Vikings in 2016, but that ended abruptly with Turner resigning after seven games with the offense ranked 31st in the league.
SAINTS: New Orleans Saints receiver Brandon Coleman has been declared out of Sunday’s divisional-round playoff game in Minnesota.
Coleman has not practiced this week because of a neck injury.
Coleman played in the wildcard round against Carolina, catching four passes for 44 yards last Sunday.
Coleman had 23 catches during the regular season for 364 yards and three touchdowns.
JAGUARS: The Jacksonville Jaguars are about as healthy as they could have hoped heading into the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.
Linebackers Telvin Smith (ankle) and Paul Posluszny (abdomen) practiced in full Friday. So did cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey (Achilles) and Aaron Colvin (illness).
The Jaguars (11-6) have gotten healthy enough that they could have the same 22 starters they had in early September when they play at Pittsburgh (13-3) on Sunday.
Backup receiver/punt returner Jaydon Mickens (hamstring) and reserve linebacker Blair Brown (ankle) were the only players listed as questionable for the game. Both practiced on a limited basis Friday.