The Panthers may be nearing the return of another important defender. Edge-rusher Yetur Gross-Matos was designated for return from injured reserve on Thursday, per a team announcement.
Gross-Matos, like safety Jeremy Chinn, was placed on IR last month. That move required an absence of at least four weeks, a timeframe which has now transpired. The former now has up to 21 days to resume practicing before being activated. His return will give Carolina’s pass rush a welcomed boost.
The Panthers have been led off the edge by two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns, to no surprise. He has posted five sacks in nine games in his contract year, but Gross-Matos has chipped in while serving in a rotational capacity. The 25-year-old recorded 2.5 sacks, six pressures and five quarterback hits in six games before going down with a hamstring injury. With fellow edge-rusher Justin Houston also on IR, Gross-Matos should be in line to reclaim a starting spot upon his return to the lineup.
The latter logged a career-high snap share of 73% last season, and he responded with a personal best in tackles (54) among other categories. Gross-Matos has failed to surpass 3.5 sacks in a season, however, and he faced questions about how well he would fit in new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero‘s 3-4 scheme. Setting a new benchmark in sacks – as he will likely be able to do if he can remain healthy for the rest of the year – will help the Penn State alum in advance of his first foray into free agency.
Gross-Matos is set to see his rookie contract expire this offseason, so a strong showing over the next few games would boost his market either on a new Panthers deal or one with an outside team. Carolina has six IR activations at the moment, but bringing Gross-Matos (along with Chinn and cornerback Jaycee Horn) back into the lineup will leave the team with three in the near future.
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