Panthers, with key players sidelined due to injuries, defeat Texans, 24-9
ByAP
WSOC: Carolina Panthers vs. Houston Texans
ByAP
CHARLOTTE — Sam Darnold threw for 304 yards and ran for two touchdowns, and the Carolina Panthers eased past the Houston Texans 24-9 on Thursday night despite losing Christian McCaffrey to an injury early in the second quarter.
The Panthers are 3-0 for the first time since 2015 when they opened the season 14-0 and reached the Super Bowl.
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Vernon Hargreaves III, Christian McCaffrey Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) rushes for a gain as Houston Texans cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III (26) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Sam Darnold Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold warms up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Christian McCaffrey Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey warms up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Juston Burris Carolina Panthers safety Juston Burris (31) warms up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Sam Darnold Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold warms up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Sam Darnold Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) scramble out of the pocket during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Sam Darnold, Dan Arnold, Cameron Erving Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates his touchdown run with Dan Arnold (85) and Cameron Erving (75) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Sam Darnold Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold throws a pass against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Shaq Thompson, Mark Ingram II Houston Texans running back Mark Ingram II (2) is tackled by Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Paul Quessenberry, Christian McCaffrey Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) is tackled by Houston Texans' Paul Quessenberry during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Joe Thomas, Christian McCaffrey Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) is tackled by Houston Texans linebacker Joe Thomas (48) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Matt Rhule Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule, left, yells at an official during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Anthony Miller, Andre Roberts, Brandin Cooks Houston Texans' Anthony Miller (3) celebrates with Andre Roberts (19) and Brandin Cooks (13) after making a touchdown catch against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Anthony Miller Houston Texans wide receiver Anthony Miller (3) makes a touchdown catch against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Christian McCaffrey Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) leaves the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
David Johnson, Jeremy Chinn Houston Texans running back David Johnson (31) rushes for a gain as Carolina Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn (21) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Phillip Lindsay Houston Texans running back Phillip Lindsay (30) rushes for a gain against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Sam Darnold, Ross Blacklock Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) loses the ball as he is hit by Houston Texans' Ross Blacklock (90) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Anthony Miller, Keith Taylor Jr. Houston Texans wide receiver Anthony Miller (3) reaches for an incomplete pass as Carolina Panthers cornerback Keith Taylor Jr. (28) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Shaq Thompson, Jaycee Horn, Haason Reddick, Mark Ingram II Houston Texans running back Mark Ingram II (2) is wrapped up by Carolina Panthers' Shaq Thompson (7), Haason Reddick (43) and Jaycee Horn during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Desmond King II, Zach Cunningham, Chuba Hubbard Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard, center, is tackled by Houston Texans' Zach Cunningham (41) and Desmond King II during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Phillip Lindsay, Jaycee Horn Houston Texans running back Phillip Lindsay (30) is tackled by Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Royce Freeman Carolina Panthers running back Royce Freeman (32) rushes for a gain against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Terrace Marshall Jr., Vernon Hargreaves III Carolina Panthers wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. (88) is knocked out of bounds by Houston Texans cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III (26) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex) (Justin Rex/AP)
Sam Darnold, Roy Lopez Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) breaks away from Houston Texans defensive tackle Roy Lopez (91) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Haason Reddick, Davis Mills Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) is pressured by Carolina Panthers linebacker Haason Reddick (43) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Zach Cunningham, DJ Moore Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Moore (2) catches a pass as Houston Texans linebacker Zach Cunningham (41) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) (Eric Christian Smith/AP)
Carolina’s top-ranked defense put the squeeze on Houston rookie Davis Mills in his first career start, sacking him four times and holding him to 168 yards passing. Mills was pressed into action after Tyrod Taylor suffered a hamstring injury last Sunday and was placed on injured reserve.
Darnold was efficient as he continues to revitalize his career with the Panthers after being cast aside by the New York Jets. But he could face some serious adversity if McCaffrey, who left with a hamstring injury in the second quarter, is forced to miss significant time.
The injury update, per the #Panthers, has Christian McCaffrey OUT the rest of the night with a hamstring injury #CARvsHOU
McCaffrey came in leading the league in scrimmage yards, the same thing he did in the 2019 season. But he missed all but three games last year with various injuries as the Panthers sputtered to 5-11 in coach Matt Rhule’s first year.
Darnold rushed for Carolina’s first score in the first quarter and put the game away when he bulled in from 1-yard out for to make it 24-9 with about four minutes left, losing his helmet in the process.
Mills threw for a touchdown and avoided big mistakes after he threw an interception in the second half of Sunday’s loss at Cleveland.
First-round pick cornerback Jaycee Horn was hurt in the third quarter with a foot injury. After the game, Rhule said Horn had “broken bones in his foot.”
Safety Juston Burris also was injured and left with a groin injury,
(Watch the video below: Panthers receiver Brandon Zylstra awards scholarship to 2 high school students)
Panthers receiver Brandon Zylstra awards scholarship to 2 high school students
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