Panthers Get Wesley Back from Suspension

The Carolina Panthers’ special teams has been faltering this year, and we’re not just talking about the suspension of Dante Wesley. Wesley was ejected from Carolina’s Week 6 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he made an illegal hit on Tampa returner Clifton Smith, who suffered a concussion, and he was subsequently suspended from last week’s game, as well. Now that Wesley has been plucked from the reserved-suspended list, however, the Panthers have waived his replacement Keith Lewis. Lewis was signed last week to fill in for Wesley upon his absence, and now with Wesley back he won’t be needed on the team’s 53-man roster.

Aside from Wesley’s comeback, the Panthers still have some work to do on their special teams. Kickoff returns especially are an area of focus for Carolina, as the team ranks last in the entire league for average drive-start position on kickoffs that don’t result in touchbacks. Kickoff coverage is something else Carolina is focused on, as John Fox recently said, “(Against Tampa Bay), our kickoff coverage wasn’t exactly stellar. That was a potentially game-changing play (when the team was) up 21-7, and (to) have a kickoff taken back 97 yards doesn’t do a boatload for your confidence. We missed three tackles on the play, one by our kicker.” Look for Carolina’s special teams to improve over the next couple weeks, as Dante Wesley is back in action and focus is given for repair.

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