Panthers’ McCaffrey goes on injured reserve
The Carolina Panthers placed running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve Saturday, sidelining him for at least the next three weeks as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
McCaffrey, 25, had already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the visiting Minnesota Vikings (2-3).
McCaffrey was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice and did not practice Thursday or Friday for the Panthers (3-2). The Panthers’ medical staff met on Saturday and decided the extended break was his best chance at a full recovery.
McCaffrey sustained the injury during Carolina’s 24-9 victory over the Houston Texans on Sept. 23.
An All-Pro, McCaffrey has 52 carries for 201 yards and a touchdown to go along with 16 receptions for 163 yards in three games this season. He played only three games in 2020 due to a high ankle sprain and a shoulder injury.
The Panthers also placed rookie guard Deonte Brown (knee) on injured reserve and signed practice squad guard Michael Jordan to the main roster.
The Panthers have yet to replace McCaffrey on the 53-man roster.
HOF PRESIDENT BAKER TO RETIRE >> Pro Football Hall of Fame president David Baker has announced his retirement.
Baker, 68, had served in the role of president and executive director since January 2014. Jim Porter, 57, the Hall’s chief marketing and communications officer since April 2020, has been named president and will oversee all daily business operations.
Baker will continue to represent the Hall of Fame at Ring of Excellence ceremonies honoring members of the 2020 and 2021 classes at NFL stadiums for the remainder of the presentation schedule.
TITANS’ DUPREE BACK FOR
BILLS GAME >> The Tennessee
Titans will have outside linebacker Bud Dupree back for the first time in three games when they host the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
The Titans did not have an injury designation Saturday on their final injury report for Dupree, who practiced fully after sitting out Friday. They will be without starting cornerback Kristian Fulton, whose hamstring kept him out of practice all week.
Dupree was Tennessee’s biggest free agent signing this offseason despite tearing his right ACL last December while playing for Pittsburgh. Dupree returned during training camp and started the season. UNSPORTSMANLIKE PENALTY
CRACKDOWN WORKING
The NFL’s crackdown on unsportsmanlike penalties is working the way the league intended.
Officials threw 11 flags for taunting in the first two weeks of this season — the same number called in the entire 2020 season for the same foul — but only three over the next three weeks.
“We’re right where we need to be and we’re now seeing the correction we were looking for,” NFL executive Troy Vincent told The Associated Press. “We saw the spike the first three weeks and now we’re seeing the decline. The coaches and the NFL Competition Committee are pleased. Coaches have told us their players are adjusting, they’re thinking about what they’re going to do, knowing it may cost the team. These are game-changing penalties for a selfish act.”
Week 6 kicked off with a taunting penalty occurring in an important moment during a prime-time game, adding to the widespread scrutiny over the rule. Players, media and fans have been critical. But the league has no plans to tell officials to back off because the goal is to eliminate foul actions that result from gesturing and in-yourface trash-talking.