Locals in the NFL: Panthers expect Devin Lloyd to return after one-game absence
Oct 2, 2026, 2:01 PM | Updated: 2:24 pm
Carolina Panthers LB Devin Lloyd is expected to return for Week 4 after missing one game with a calf injury. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
(Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Carolina Panthers got good news Wednesday, with linebacker Devin Lloyd listed as a full participant in practice.
A calf injury kept Lloyd out of last Sunday’s 21-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns, but his return to practice puts him on track to play in Week 4.
That would be a major boost for a Carolina defense looking to rebound after a narrow loss and regain the form it showed earlier this season.
Locals in the NFL: Devin Lloyd highlights weekend with standout performance
DEVIN LLOYD JUST HAD ONE OF THE GREATEST LINEBACKER PERFORMANCES IN NFL HISTORY
9 TKL, 2 TFL, 2 INT, 1 SACK, 1 TD, 1 QBH, 3 PD
Carolina may have landed one of the best defensive pickups of the offseason. pic.twitter.com/4BGRbQ7jxq
— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) September 20, 2026
Lloyd has quickly become one of the Panthers’ most important defensive playmakers in his first year with the franchise, and his ability to affect the game as a tackler, blitzer, and coverage defender gives Carolina a needed presence in the middle of the field.
The former Utah linebacker had a Week 2 performance that many players can only dream of.
Lloyd finished with a game-high nine tackles, a sack, and two tackles for loss in an important early-season divisional matchup. He also added two interceptions, including the second pick-six of his NFL career when he pulled in a tipped pass and rumbled 16 yards to the end zone in an eventual 34-3 win over Atlanta.
He has 22 tackles in his first season with Carolina after signing a three-year, $45 million deal in the offseason.
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About Devin Lloyd
Before his time in the NFL, the Chula Vista, California, native played at Utah from 2018-21 and became one of the best defenders in program history.
As a senior in 2021, Lloyd recorded 111 total tackles, 66 solo tackles, eight sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four interceptions, six pass breakups and two touchdowns. He helped the Utes win their first Pac-12 title and earn a Rose Bowl Game bid for the first time in program history.
During his Utah career, Lloyd had 256 total tackles, 150 solo tackles, 16.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, five interceptions, eight pass breakups and three touchdowns.
The Jaguars selected Lloyd with the No. 27 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
RELATED: Devin Lloyd signs three-year deal with Carolina Panthers
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As a rookie in 2022, Lloyd had 115 total tackles, 59 solo tackles, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions, and eight pass breakups. In 2023, he posted 127 total tackles, 75 solo tackles, two fumble recoveries, and seven pass breakups.
His iron-man mentality continued in his third season as he started all 16 games and finished with 113 tackles, seven tackles for loss and the first two sacks of his professional career.
Lloyd earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2025. He was named to the All-Pro second team after registering 81 tackles, 10 quarterback hits and a career-high five interceptions for Jacksonville.
Now, the Panthers are hoping that same production is on the field in Week 4.
After missing one game, Lloyd’s full participation is the clearest sign yet that Carolina could get one of its top defensive pieces back on the field. For a team trying to build momentum early in the season, his return would come at the right time.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in the NFL, Locals in MLB and the Utah State Aggies. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
Parts of this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team.
