Panthers' offensive line ravaged by injuries

Atlanta Falcons: Devonta Freeman (knee) missed practice on Wednesday, and coach Dan Quinn said the running back's status is day-to-day. Freeman sustained the injury during the season-opening game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 6, and the belief was that he would be fine for this Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. But Quinn said Freeman is bothered by soreness even if his injury doesn't fall into the serious category. Atlanta is concerned enough that it promoted running back Brian Hill off the practice squad. Hill, a fifth-round pick by the Falcons in 2017, rushed for 37 yards on 11 carries last year for the Cincinnati Bengals, who recently released him.

Carolina Panthers: Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner (concussion) is in jeopardy of missing Sunday's game against the Falcons, which would rate as another blow for the offensive line. Left tackle Matt Kalil (knee) is on injured reserve and will miss the first eight games, and right tackle Daryl Williams (knee) was placed on injured reserve after getting hurt in the opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said of the possibility of missing three top linemen: "You do get concerned about it, but I feel comfortable in the depth we had. We did some things consciously in the number of offensive linemen we kept on the roster when we initially set it."

New Orleans Saints: Receiver Cameron Meredith didn't play in the opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because coach Sean Payton didn't feel he was up to speed. Meredith, who turns 26 next week, missed the entire 2017 season after sustaining an ACL tear in the preseason, and he has been playing catch-up this summer. "I think, more than anything else, it had to do with just the reps he was behind coming off training camp," Payton said. "We'll see how he's doing this week. I think from a health standpoint, he's doing good. It's just getting him up to speed from a timing element and getting him the reps he needs to be ready to function and go in and play consistently."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves' season is over after the team placed him on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. Hargreaves was diagnosed with a torn labrum, an injury confirmed by noted surgeon James Andrews. Hargreaves, 23, sustained the injury when he dived to break up a pass during the fourth quarter of the opener against the Saints. It made for a rough ending for Hargreaves, who struggled last season and worked hard with the defensive coaches in the offseason to improve his skills. The first-round pick in 2016 has just one interception in 26 NFL games.