Commanders look to get back on track when they host the struggling Panthers

Carolina (1-5) at Washington (4-2)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT, CBS

BetMGM NFL Odds: Commanders by 8

Against the spread: Panthers 1-5; Commanders 4-2

Series record: Washington leads 10-7.

Last meeting: Washington beat the Panthers 27-21, on Nov. 21, 2021, at Carolina.

Last week: Panthers lost to Falcons 38-20; Commanders lost to Ravens 30-23.

Panthers offense: overall (25), rush (22), pass (23), scoring (28)

Panthers defense: overall (29), rush (30), pass (23), scoring (32)

Commanders offense: overall (5), rush (5), pass (13), scoring (3)

Commanders defense: overall (22), rush (22), pass (19), scoring (22)

Turnover differential: Commanders plus-1; Panthers minus-4

WR Diontae Johnson. After a slow week against Chicago, Johnson returned to form Sunday against Atlanta with six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. Johnson remains Carolina's top receiver and has been targeted 55 times with 29 receptions for 340 yards and three scores and his route running makes him a formidable task for Washington's secondary.

Rookie DT Johnny Newton. With Jonathan Allen done for the season because of a torn pectoral muscle, it will be up to the rotation of Daron Payne, Phidarian Mathis, Newton and newly signed Sheldon Day to fill the void. Newton, who said he has fully healed from offseason foot surgery, was picked 36th in the draft to have an immediate impact. It's now his time to shine.

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard vs. the Commanders run defense: Hubbard has averaged more than 100 yards rushing over the past four games and 5.9 yards a carry over the past five. He will face a Washington defense that ranks 29th in yards per attempt allowed. There is little doubt the Panthers will look to control the clock with a steady dose of Hubbard and Miles Sanders.

Panthers TE Tommy Tremble returned to practice this week after missing the Falcons game with a concussion. ... Carolina is hoping to get RT Taylor Moton (triceps) and OLB Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder) back after both sat out last week. ... RB Jonathan Brooks, DT Jaden Crumedy and DB Sam Franklin all returned to practice this week after being on injured reserve, but it's unclear if any will be ready to play. ... Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. is aiming to return after missing the game last week with a knee injury. ... DE Dorance Armstrong is in danger of not playing after injuring his ribs against Baltimore. ... Rookie LB Jordan Magee could make his NFL debut after injuring a knee during the preseason.

Washington has won three of the past four meetings. ... The Panthers have won three of their past four visits to the stadium in Landover, Maryland. ... This is a matchup of the only two NFL teams Ron Rivera coached. Rivera was with Carolina from 2011-19 and Washington from 2020-23. ... Carolina has lost four in a row and been outscored 108-54 during this skid. ... Commanders S Jeremy Chinn spent the past four seasons and LB Frankie Luvu the past three with Carolina.

QB Andy Dalton is 1-3 this season as the Panthers starter but will continue to play ahead of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, who was benched after two games. ... WR Jalen Coker is emerging as a threat as Carolina's No. 3 receiver and taking snaps away from 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo. ... The Panthers defense is allowing 33.8 points a game, which is the ninth most allowed by a defense in the Super Bowl era. ... LB Trevin Wallace has 24 tackles, the most by any Carolina player in his first two games. ... Carolina has allowed its opponents to score touchdowns on 75% of trips in the red zone, second most in the league. ... K Eddy Piñeiro is 9 of 10 on field goals and has made all 10 extra point attempts. ... The Commanders ran for a season-low 52 yards in their loss at Baltimore. ... Rookie QB Jayden Daniels is the only player to throw for 1,400 yards and run for 300 in his first six games. ... Daniels threw for a career-high 269 yards against the Ravens and had two TD passes to Terry McLaurin. ... Robinson leads the team with 325 yards rushing and has run for five TDs. ... TE Zach Ertz had a season-high 68 yards receiving against the Ravens on four catches. ... Six-time All-Pro LB Bobby Wagner led Washington with a season-best 12 tackles last week. ... Rookie CB Mike Sainristil picked off Lamar Jackson for the Commanders' first interception of the season. ... K Austin Seibert made three field goals and had one blocked against Baltimore.

Commanders RB Austin Ekeler could get the majority of the carries, even if Robinson is active and in uniform. But Robinson gets so many looks near the goal line that he should still be a candidate to start.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Nate Landman (53) tackles Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (6) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, front, catches a 6-yard touchdown pass as Baltimore Ravens defensive back Brandon Stephens, rear, defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels sits in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) walks the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels walks off the field following an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 30-23. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

The first stage of Mohamed Salah’s rehabilitation at Liverpool is complete after the Egypt forward returned to the team for its 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The question now as Salah heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations: Is there a future for him at Anfield when he comes back?

Salah, who let rip last weekend about his current frustrations at Liverpool, entered as a 26th-minute substitute to a big ovation and set up the second of Hugo Ekitike’s goals as the defending champion extended its unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

Also Saturday, Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 and was set on its way to victory by Cole Palmer’s first goal in three months. First-place Arsenal hosts last-place Wolverhampton later.

Salah held talks with Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Friday in an effort to overcome their issues and the result was that Salah was recalled to the matchday squad for the Brighton game. He had been a substitute for the last three Premier League matches before being left at home for the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan as a punishment for his explosive comments to reporters last weekend.

“It was an easy decision to put him in the squad," Slot said. “I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us.”

Liverpool's fans demonstrated they are willing to excuse Salah for his show of anger and gave him a rapturous welcome when he came on as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half.

By then, Liverpool was leading 1-0 thanks to Ekitike's rising shot inside the first minute and Salah showed glimpses of his class, especially on the counterattack. It was Salah's corner kick that was headed in by Ekitike for the second goal in the 60th, sparking another round of chants for the Egyptian.

Slot said Salah was a threat all game.

“Pleasing to see but not a surprise,” Slot said.

Salah could be away for more than a month if Egypt goes all the way in the Africa Cup.

It was a second straight start for Palmer, whose season has been blighted by a groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions.

There looked to be nothing wrong with Palmer when he ran onto Malo Gusto's pass and slipped a finish inside the near post to give Chelsea the lead in the 21st minute at Stamford Bridge.

However, Palmer said after the game that he wasn't at his best yet because he was “still dealing with an injury.”

“It’s just a matter of not doing too much too soon,” Palmer told the BBC. “Literally, it’s just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better.”

Gusto added the second goal in the 45th minute for Chelsea, which jumped to fourth place.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton in London, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool fans hold placard depicting Liverpool's Mohamed Salah before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Brighton's Lewis Dunk during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)