1:09 PM
A number of players were sent home from Carolina on Monday after they tested positive for a banned substance.
On Monday, Brian Burns and Marquis Haynes Jr., defensive tackles Phil Hoskins and Daviyon Nixon, and center Matt Paradis were added to the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list. Nixon and Paradis were already on IR.
Eight of them already were on the list going into Sunday's 32-6 loss to Tampa Bay.
Rhule said that several positions have been impacted and that the organization is looking at options to replace them. The game is in New Orleans.
Rhule said that they brought guys in last week. When they got here, they tested negative at their previous spot. It's a unique puzzle.
We're exploring all options to make sure we have a full team that can play on Sunday.
Rhule didn't name a starter for Sunday until Wednesday because he hadn't had a chance to meet with his quarterbacks, and he will be "definitive'' at that point.
The starter on Sunday was CamNewton, who fell to 0-5. The only Carolina quarterback under contract in the year 2022, Sam Darnold, finished the game.
Rhule said that the coaches would work from their offices.
The Carolinas that were on the list on Sunday were: wide receiver Brandon Zylstra, defensive end Austin Larkin, center Pat Elflein, quarterback Matt Barkley, safety Sam Franklin, and offensive lineman Dennis Daley.
