Panthers preparing to be without ‘great communicator’ Xavier Woods

Another man down means another man up for head coach Frank Reich and his wounded Carolina Panthers.

Safety Xavier Woods, who has officially been ruled out of Sunday’s contest, is expected to miss extended time with a hamstring injury. The seventh-year veteran is just the latest starting defender to go down for the Panthers, as they’re already without linebacker Shaq Thompson (fibula) and cornerback Jaycee Horn (hamstring).

And while unfortunate, especially for an 0-3 team, Reich told reporters on Friday that it’s just part of the game.

“It’s just a question of gettin’ reps during the week,” he said. “Everybody’s into it all the time. That’s what these guys are trained to do, that’s what they’re ready to do. I think the coaching staff has done a great job of gettin’ everybody ready. The players are all talkin’ to each other. I feel like our communication will be really, really on point this week.”

Woods had been playing quite well prior to the setback. Between Weeks 1 and 2, he recorded 10 tackles and a pair of passes defensed while earning two top-five defensive grades for Carolina from Pro Football Focus.

Reich was then asked if Woods’ absence would call for a major adjustment to the unit.

“I don’t think it’s a major adjustment,” he said. “I mean, I just think that you’re losin’ a great player and a great communicator. But, at the same time, there’s been so much rotation by everybody that everybody’s gettin’ a lot of reps all the way from OTAs to training camp. So I think we’ll respond well.”

They’ll start by trying to respond when hosting Woods’ previous employer and fellow 0-3 squad—the Minnesota Vikings.