Panthers' Sam Franklin: Will make season debut Sunday
Rotowire
Franklin (foot) is active for Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Broncos, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Franklin began the campaign on IR and missed each of Carolina's first seven contests. He was activated Saturday after finishing the week with consecutive full practices. Franklin has logged more snaps on special teams than on defense each of the past three seasons and will likely fill a similar role now that he's back in action.
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Panthers' Sam Franklin: Removed from IR
Rotowire
The Panthers activated Franklin (foot) from injured reserve Saturday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Franklin, Carolina's special teams captain, has yet to make an appearance during the regular season due to a fractured foot sustained during training camp. He remains questionable for Sunday's road matchup against the Broncos.
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Panthers' Sam Franklin: Could return from IR
Rotowire
Franklin (personal/foot) was a full practice participant Friday and is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Franklin broke his foot in late July, which caused him to begin the regular season on injured reserve. His 21-day window to return from IR opened Oct. 14, and while he opened this week as a DNP on Wednesday, he finished with consecutive full practices. By practicing without limitations over the last two days, Franklin has given himself a chance of being activated off IR ahead of Sunday's contest.
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Panthers' Sam Franklin: Breaks foot
Rotowire
Franklin broke his foot during Saturday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Head coach Dave Canales called Franklin's injury "a big hit" due to the 28-year-old's value to Carolina's special-teams unit, per David Newton of ESPN.com. Franklin appeared in all 17 of the Panthers' regular-season games last season, recording 30 total tackles and three passes defended, including one interception, while playing a total of 602 snaps (313 on special teams). Once the Temple product is past his foot injury, he's expected to remain an integral part of the Panthers' special-teams unit.
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Panthers' Sam Franklin: Returns to Carolina
Rotowire
The Panthers re-signed Franklin to a one-year contract Wednesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Franklin suited up for all 17 regular-season games with Carolina last season, finishing with 30 tackles (20 solo) and three passes defensed, including an interception which he returned for a 99-yard touchdown in Week 4 against the Vikings. He also played 310 snaps on special teams.
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Panthers' Sam Franklin: Takes advantage of start
Rotowire
Franklin recorded four tackles (two solo) and returned an interception for a touchdown in Sunday's 21-13 loss to the Vikings.
Franklin received the start at free safety with Xavier Woods (hamstring) unable to play and took advantage of the opportunity. With the Vikings on the doorstep, the Temple product was able to pick off a pass intended for K.J. Osborn at the one-yard line and take it 99 yards for the first score of the game. It was the 27-year-old's first interception of his career, as well as his first touchdown. With Woods still ailing and potentially facing a multi-week absence, Franklin may get the start again in Week 5 against the Lions.
