Greg

Little

Little started seven games and played in all 17 for Miami last year as their tackle depth was tested. He’s done little in the first four years of his career since being drafted in the second round by the Panthers. He’ll be a depth option for the Texans behind Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard.

This is a strong indication the No. 37 overall pick of the 2019 draft was not going to crack the Panthers’ 53-man roster after turning in 10 shaky appearances/three starts in 2020. For the Dolphins, Little will provide some depth for second-year LT Austin Jackson and a fall-back plan for RT Jesse Davis, who was not effective in 2020. Little does have a reputation for struggling on the right side, however (to say nothing of the left). Little is still only 23 years old, so it would not be the strangest thing for him to improve with a change of coaching scenery. The Dolphins have a pair of seventh-round picks in 2022. Carolina will receive the higher of the two picks.

A reserve, Little suffered a sprained knee and sprained ankle during Wednesday’s practice. He missed the season opener with an ankle issue and proceeded to appear in every game through Week 11 before this week’s practice injuries. Little, who also ended 2019 on injured reserve, was Carolina’s top rated run blocker this year, per Pro Football Focus.

Little can’t pass a physical right now, but he’s not expected to be on the PUP list long-term. Instead, he’ll probably get onto the practice field late-August and be ready for Week 1. The Panthers already have a lot of turnover on both sides of the ball and can’t afford to have their starting left tackle sidelined.

Bailey added that nothing has been decided, although the decision to ship stud G Trai Turner to the Chargers for LT Russell Okung would indicate that a shake up could be on the horizon. The decision seems a bit short sighted to say the least. Panthers GM Marty Hurney said less than a year ago, "(Little) has the skills to be the starting left tackle for a long time ... Left tackles are going to be drafted early. If we didn’t make this move, we didn’t feel like we could get him.”

Little was already out this week with a high-ankle sprain. The Panthers are shutting him down with only three games remaining. Little also dealt with concussion issues that limited him to just four appearances this season. The Panthers are counting on him to take a step forward in Year 2.

He’ll miss his second straight game with a high-ankle sprain. The Panthers will continue to start Dennis Daley in Little’s place.

Little left Week 12 and hasn’t been able to play since. Consider the tackle week to week. Carolina will also be without fellow Greg, TE Greg Olsen who was unable to get out of the concussion protocol.

The Panthers will have RT Taylor Morton and CB Ross Cockrell despite being on the practice report this week, but OT Greg Little (ankle) will miss at least one more game. All things considered, the Panthers are pretty healthy heading into a late-season game.

The No. 37 overall pick was projected to be the Panthers’ left tackle but has been limited to just two appearances and one start by concussion issues. Coach Ron Rivera would not say if Little would start against the Falcons. The Panthers’ Darryl Williams/Dennis Daley mix and match has not been going particularly well.