The Falcons’ linebackers must embody coach Dan Quinn’s fast and physical style of play against the Panthers.
The Panthers rushed for 142 yards on 32 carries in the first meeting between the teams two weeks ago. Running back Jonathan Stewart broke loose for a 44-yard gain on the third play of the game, but is coming back from a foot injury and is expected to miss Sunday’s game.
Rookie Cameron Artis-Payne, a fifth-round pick out of Auburn, will lead the running back committee. He rushed 14 times for 59 yards and caught two passes for 34 yards in a victory over the New York Giants last Sunday.
“I thought he handled his opportunities very nicely,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “He had a couple of big runs that he popped. He had a couple of runs that he had to power up on the inside and he was able to grind out 3-, 4- or 5-yard gains.”
Artis-Payne, who had a fumbled exchange with quarterback Cam Newton on a zone-read play, is still getting used to the speed of the NFL.
“He looked tentative a couple of times,” Rivera said. “He kind of tippy-toed a little bit.”
Artis-Payne was solid in pass protection.
“He was a little bit rusty, but I thought he did a nice job in protection,” Rivera said. “He did a nice job out of the backfield catching the ball and running with it as well. Again, he’s kind of who we thought he would be. It’s just that it has been real tough to get him out there.”
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