Carolina Panthers: 3 storylines coming off the bye week

When will Greg Olsen be able to return?

For the second straight year, Greg Olsen suffered a fractured foot early in the season. Last year, it was Week 2 against Buffalo but this year it was the first game of the season versus the Dallas Cowboys.

The good news though is that the recovery time appears to be significantly less than it was last year. The former Pro Bowl tight end missed nine games last season but appears to be optimistic and recently said he was ‘way ahead of the curve.’

While it seems unlikely he would be available for the game against the Giants, if he continues to recover the way he has Olsen could be available before the end of October.

The Panthers offense has played well this year but the return of Olsen would be a big boost. He is still one of the best tight ends in the game and is a reliable pass catcher for Cam Newton.