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Latest update: Panthers quarterback battling injury ahead of big game against Bills.

Carolina Panthers Officially Name Starting QB

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - An ankle injury has Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young’s status for Sunday’s big game against the Buffalo Bills up in the air.

Young -- now in his third year with the Panthers -- sustained the right ankle injury during the third quarter of this past weekend’s 13-6 victory over the New York Jets, which marked the team’s third win in a row. Backup Andy Dalton came in and finished the game.

After Sunday’s game, Young was seen leaving the Jets’ stadium in a walking boot, and on Monday, both national and local reporters said the 24-year-old was likely to miss the Bills game. Panthers head coach Dave Canales, though, has yet to confirm that.

On Monday, Canales said Young was looked at as being “day-to-day” with his injury, and at no point has he called it a sprain -- even when specifically asked if that was the case.

With Young’s status still very much in limbo, he took a big step on Wednesday when he showed up in uniform to the Panthers’ first practice of the week. Video captured him doing exercises off to the side, doing some dropbacks and tossing a few passes.

Canales did say that Young did not take any reps in practice -- Dalton took all the first-team snaps -- and the team’s official injury report listed Young as a nonparticipant. Still, Canales said his quarterback was able to do more Wednesday than he did Tuesday.

“That’s our plan right now,” Canales said during a Wednesday afternoon press conference. “Each day try to push him a little bit more, try to see if we can get him out there in a different capacity ... We’ll just take it day-to-day and make the best decision.”

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was seen doing some exercises and tossing passes at...

A more subtle observation from Wednesday’s practice was that Young was working out in cleats, and did not appear to have brace visible, nor was his ankle noticeably taped.

“If Bryce is ready to go, he’s going to go,” Canales said of Young’s status against the Bills. “They all want Bryce to go, Andy included.”

While Wednesday’s practice was at the very least an encouraging sign for Young’s recovery, he will likely need to continue to ramp up his workload Thursday and Friday in order for the Panthers to feel comfortable starting him Sunday.

If Young is unable to play against Buffalo, Dalton would get the start, with either Hendon Hooker or newly signed Mike White serving as the backup.

The win over the Jets advanced the Panthers to a 4-3 record, pushing them above .500 for the first time since 2021.

Beating the Bills and reigning MVP Josh Allen will be no easy task for Carolina; however, Buffalo is coming off two straight losses, and has the second-worst run defense in the NFL -- something that is a strength of this Panthers team.

Despite the Panthers’ three-game winning streak, they were listed as 7.5-point underdogs on Thursday morning by FanDuel.

Kickoff for the Panthers-Bills matchup is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, where Carolina is a perfect 3-0 in 2025. The game will be broadcast on FOX with Panthers legend Greg Olsen on the call.

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Eagles Cheerleader Sues an Eagles Player for Harassment by Flirting with Her While Already Married
Can you believe it? A charming, dynamic cheerleader from the Philadelphia Eagles is "exploding" and dragging a team player to court for "unforgivable" behaviors! Abigale Licciardi – the star of the Eagles Cheer Squad – has officially filed a lawsuit, and the drama behind it is stirring up NFL fans! Could this be the "biggest scandal" in Eagles history? Read now to discover the "scorching" details! Abigale Licciardi, a professional cheerleader for the American football team Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL, is a prominent member of the Eagles Cheer Squad group. She is a former student at the University of Pennsylvania, where she participated in the local cheer squad and dance activities. Before that, Abigale was a dancer for NBA events and holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Temple University. Abigale is active on social media, often sharing about games at Lincoln Financial Field, community activities, and her role as a brand ambassador for the Eagles. As part of the Eagles Cheer Squad team consisting of about 47 members (combining male and female), Abigale participates in fan interactions, charity events like "Dream On 3," and performances at Eagles games. She has an Instagram account (@abigalelicciardi) with posts about cheer life and a TikTok (@abigale_eagles) where she shares videos about game days and dance routines. Before joining the Eagles, she worked at a local event company, proving her versatility and passion. But the "nightmare" struck when Abigale got "entangled" with an Eagles player! That's Mike Thornton, a backup defensive end who rarely plays for the Eagles – a guy who's practically "anonymous" to fans, only playing sporadically on special teams and never a pillar. Thornton, 29 years old, has been married since 2021 to his wife, a community nurse, and they have two young children (one boy and one girl). Yet, according to Abigale's lawsuit, Thornton has been "flirting" with her recklessly, despite his happy family life! The "explosion" happened when Thornton started sending "sweet" messages to Abigale via Instagram, praising her smile and energy after performances. At first, Abigale thought it was just friendly praise from a teammate, but things quickly "crossed the line" into harassment! Thornton called her in the middle of the night – sometimes at 1-2 a.m. – to "share" about playing pressures, invite her for private dinners, and even send "suggestive" videos filmed at the gym! Abigale stated in the lawsuit: "He knows I only focus on my career and the team, but he won't stop. Those midnight calls make me anxious and stressed, severely affecting my performance!" According to insider sources, Thornton has been "stalking" Abigale since preseason, frequently "lingering" at community events she attends, and intentionally "creating situations" to approach her. Thornton's wife, upon learning, went "crazy" and threatened to break up, but the guy remains "blind"! The Eagles are "shaken" by this scandal: The team management has temporarily isolated Thornton for investigation, while fans are divided – one side defends Abigale's "brave accusation," the other suspects it's a "staged script." The NFL league is also intervening, which could lead to heavy fines or removal from the roster! Abigale, with her "queen" image on TikTok and Instagram, is now becoming a "victim" of harassment – a thorny issue in the sports world! How will the court punish Thornton? And will the Eagles "clean up" the team to protect their cheerleaders? Don't miss out – follow now for the next "drama" update! What do you think about this case, comment below!