Jaelan Phillips inactive for Panthers against Buccaneers in Week 7

Hamstring injury sidelines him after two missed practices.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated yesterday1 min read

Week 7 Inactives vs. Tampa Bay: No Jaelan Phillips this week https://t.co/qUfNwIOE82 Via @Panthers on X

What happened: Carolina ruled out Jaelan Phillips for Sunday's home matchup against Tampa Bay due to a hamstring injury. The decision follows a week in which Phillips was held out of both Wednesday and Thursday practices.

Why it matters: Carolina enters Sunday holding the No. 3 seed at 3-2 and riding a two-game winning streak after defeating Philadelphia 25-14 on Oct. 18. Selected 18th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Phillips posted 53 tackles and five sacks across 17 games in 2025, leaving Carolina without a rotational pass rusher against a 1-5 Tampa Bay team.

By the numbers: Carolina sits at 3-2 (No. 3 seed, W2 streak) following a 25-14 road victory on Oct. 18, while Tampa Bay enters Week 7 at 1-5.

What to watch: Carolina faces Tampa Bay on Sunday without Phillips in the defensive lineup. His return to the practice field next week will determine his availability for Week 8.

Sources

@Panthers 2026-10-25T15:36:43.629024+00:00

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