GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Carolina Panthers ruled out four players, including starting outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (hamstring) and left guard Damien Lewis (knee), Wednesday for "Thursday Night Football" against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Phillips, Lewis, fill-in starting cornerback Akayleb Evans (triceps/knee) and backup guard Torricelli Simpkins III (ankle) were sidelined throughout the week of practice and were officially shelved for the primetime matchup by the team ahead of its trip to Green Bay.
Starting defensive lineman Bobby Brown III was listed as questionable entering the Week 8 clash. Brown, Evans, Lewis and Simpkins all sustained their injuries in Sunday's home loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Phillips will miss a second consecutive game after reinjuring his hamstring against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, in a Week 6 road win.
Key Packers players ruled out include center Sean Rhyan (ankle), guard Travis Glover (knee) and linebacker Zaire Franklin. Wide receiver Matthew Golden (knee/toe) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (ankle) are listed as questionable.
Phillips will once again be replaced by a committee opposite fellow starting Patrick Jones II. Princely Umanmielen, a 2025 third-round pick, and veteran Trevis Gipson will rotate with special teams ace Nick Hampton, who was promoted to the 53-man roster this week, at the position.
Lewis' replacement is less clear, as coach Dave Canales offered up a couple of different options Tuesday. The coach mentioned Corey Bullock, who started in place of Lewis in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions, as a potential choice.
Evans started at cornerback -- with rookie Will Lee III -- in place of injured starters Jaycee Horn (quad) and Mike Jackson (groin), who have been on injured reserve since Week 4. Lee and Chau Smith-Wade are the lone healthy cornerbacks on the Panthers' 53-man roster heading into the battle with Green Bay.
The Panthers are expected to elevate cornerback Marco Wilson and guard/tackle Jake Curhan from the practice squad for Thursday night's game, a league source told ESPN. Coach Dave Canales had mused about Curhan and Wilson potentially filling in for Lewis and Evans on Tuesday. If Wilson starts Thursday, it would be his first NFL start since 2023.
If Brown isn't able to play, TeRah Edwards would probably return to the game-day rotation. Derrick Brown, Lee Hunter, Turk Wharton and Aaron Hall would headline the group.
Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald was added to the injury report Tuesday with an illness, but he doesn't have an injury status before the game.