THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Falcons (4-5) at Panthers (2-7)

Thursday, 5:15 p.m. (Amazon Prime)

■ Line: -2½; total 42

■ Falcons player to watch: LB Rashaan Evans leads Atlanta with 85 tackles, including at least five in every game this season. He had nine tackles with a sack against Carolina on Oct. 30. He has forced a fumble and recovered two fumbles this season. Evans has combined with Mykal Walker to provide leadership and stability in the middle of a defense that has struggled with injuries in the secondary and a lack of a consistent pass rush.

■ Panthers player to watch: RB D’onta Foreman ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns on Oct. 30 vs. Atlanta. Foreman didn’t get a chance to do much in Week 9 at Cincinnati as the Panthers fell behind quickly and were forced to throw. Prior to the Bengals game, he had put up back-to-back 118-yard rushing games.

■ Key matchup: Falcons RBS Cordarrelle Patterson/tyler Allgeier vs. Panthers run defense. Patterson, who did not play in the first meeting, ran for two touchdowns against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday and could have a big game against Carolina. Allgeier set career highs in scrimmage yards (123) and yards rushing (99) last week and is fourth among rookies in rushing with 423 yards.

■ Injuries: Falcons LG Matt Hennessy (knee) will be held out. With Elijah Wilkinson and Jalen Mayfield on IR, Colby Gossett could start. … The Panthers hope to get RB Chuba Hubbard back in the mix after he missed the past two games with an ankle injury. … CB Donte Jackson also is dealing with an ankle injury but is expected to play.