All-Pro cornerback set to make Panthers debut Sunday

Stephon Gilmore is set to make his Carolina Panthers debut on Sunday after being activated to the active roster on Saturday.

The South Carolina product was on the physically unable to perform list when the Panthers traded for him, and though he was eligible to play against the Giants in Week 7, the Panthers wanted to give him another week to get his feet underneath him after a long layoff.

In a corresponding move, the Panthers also placed defensive end Darryl Johnson on inured reserve, with a hamstring injury.

The Panthers plan to ease Stephon Gilmore and linebacker Shaq Thompson in certain packages as both return from injury. Prior to the lead to Week 7, Gilmore had not practiced since Dec. 2020. Thompson on the other hand makes his return after missing four games with a foot injury. Shaq Thompson returned to the practice field Wednesday and was listed as a limited participant, but Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule said he was optimistic about Thompson’s chances of playing Sunday against the Falcons.

“I sure hope so,” Rhule said. “He practiced today in full pads, and ran around. He was limited in terms of the amount of reps we gave him. We’ll see how he progresses through the rest of the week.”

Thompson has had a breakout season prior to his injury, garnering 25 tackles, a sack, an interception and two tackles for loss in the first four games. Without Thompson, the Panthers have been on a four-game losing streak.

The Panthers acquired Stephon Gilmore from the New England Patriots for a 2023 sixth-round pick on Oct. 6 after the Patriots originally planned to release their star defensive back. Gilmore and the Patriots decided to end their relationship when they couldn’t come to an agreement on a restructured contract.

Gilmore was drafted by the Buffalo Bills, but left for New England via free agency in 2017. With the Patriots, Stephon Gilmore emerged as one of, if not the best, cornerback in the league. Gilmore won Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, two first-team All-Pro honors in 2018 and 2019, and five-straight Pro Bowl selections, four-straight with the Patriots.

After starting the season on a three-game winning streak, Carolina has come crashing back down to earth, losers of four straight, including an embarrassing 25-3 loss on the road last week to the New York Giants.

The now 3-4 Panthers are fourth in the NFC South. They’ll take on the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 31 before going back home for a game versus the New England Patriots.