Lewis suffered a UCL injury in Week 3 and missed Week 4. A return to practice this early in the week suggests he’ll be back after missing just one game. Andy Dalton came back to Earth last week, throwing for two touchdowns and one interception in a losing effort versus Cincinnati. Getting Lewis back in the lineup would help protect Dalton in his third start this season. The Panthers also got defensive tackle Shy Tuttle back at practice on Wednesday.

Lewis is dealing with a torn UCL that he hopes to eventually play through. That said, it doesn’t appear he’s recovered enough from the injury to play in Week 4 against the Bengals. In addition to Lewis, the Panthers have also listed OG Robert Hunt (hip) as questionable.

A torn UCL requires Tommy John surgery to repair, but Lewis is hoping to play through it. The nature of the injury more often affects ball throwers — i.e., pitchers/quarterbacks, but if Lewis can manage, he may opt to put off surgery until a later date. Lewis has been a DNP in each of the Panthers’ first two practices to open the week. We’ll see if he’s able to get on the field on Friday before heading into the weekend.

Lewis joins ex-Dolphin Robert Hunt as the Panthers’ second big interior line addition of the day as they try to improve Bryce Young’s blocking. A 2020 third-round pick, Lewis was a starter for the entirety of his rookie deal in Seattle, but he was hot and cold with his effectiveness. He was reasonably durable, though he missed six games over the past three years. The Panthers are doing the right thing as they try to right the wrongs of Young’s awful rookie supporting cast.