The Panthers won’t have Stephon Gilmore back in time for the Giants game. Here’s why

Carolina Panthers cornerback Stephon Gilmore did not make the trip with the team to New York and will not play in their upcoming game against the Giants, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

Gilmore, a Rock Hill native, practiced with the team early Saturday morning in Charlotte. There was a chance he could play a few snaps, but the staff ultimately decided he would sit another week.

Gilmore is currently on the team’s Physically Unable to Perform list after dealing with a quad injury in 2020 that prematurely ended his season.

He was first eligible to come off the PUP list this week.

The Panthers traded for Gilmore earlier this month a few weeks after losing rookie Jaycee Horn to a broken foot. They hoped Gilmore could be someone they could plug in right away to keep up the success the defense was having at the time.

But the Panthers (3-3) have lost three consecutive games after starting 3-0. Their defense has struggled in two of their last three games. And while their secondary hasn’t been the biggest problem, it hasn’t been great. The Panthers have allowed seven passing touchdowns in the past three games — four against the Cowboys in Week 4 and three against the Vikings in Week 6.

Gilmore, 31, was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and an All-Pro cornerback after posting six interceptions and 20 pass deflections. His numbers dropped off in 2020 as he dealt with COVID and the quad injury.

The hope is that Gilmore will be available Week 8 when the Panthers play the Atlanta Falcons.