Panthers notes: Key players questionable

Panthers notes: Key players questionable
December 20
Charlotte Observer
"There will be some pre-game intrigue Sunday at the Meadowlands.

Two key (and banged up) players in the Carolina Panthers-New York Giants showdown - Carolina defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu (ankle) and Giants running back Brandon Jacobs (knee) - are listed as "questionable." Their status for the game won't be released until right before the 8:15 p.m. game time.

Kemoeatu, who hurt his ankle last week against Denver, practiced on a limited basis Friday. Jacobs has been limited all week, but he also has maintained to reporters in New York that he will play. He didn't play Sunday in a loss against Dallas, in which the Giants rushed for 72 yards, a season low.

"Questionable" means there's a 50-50 chance a player won't play.

The presence, or lack thereof, of Kemoeatu and Jacobs will go a long way in determining how effective the Giants running game (tied for best in the league with Atlanta) can be.

Jacobs (1,002 yards) is the centerpiece of it, but there are two other running backs - Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw - who are also very capable.

The Panthers need Kemoeatu (6-5, 345) to clog up things in the middle, which is where Jacobs likes to run."
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