One of Carolina's Best Linemen Is Out, and the Lions Are Coming to Town

Damien Lewis hurt his elbow in the first half against Cleveland on Sunday and came back in the third quarter to finish the game. That tells you a lot about how the Panthers' left guard has played this season. The injury will now cost him at least one game.

Lewis has a UCL injury in his elbow and will miss a few weeks, NFL Network reported Tuesday. A source described it to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler as a tear. Doctors are still evaluating him.

The timing could help. Carolina plays Detroit on Sunday night and has its bye in Week 5, so it's possible Lewis misses only the Lions game.

It's still a bad week for it. Lewis has been one of the team's best linemen through three games, while left tackle Rasheed Walker, signed to a one-year deal in March, has struggled next to him. Rookie Monroe Freeling is playing on the right side.

The injuries are adding up after the 21-18 loss to the Browns. Top cornerback Jaycee Horn is out indefinitely with a torn quad from the same game. Help could arrive after the bye, when longtime starting tackles Taylor Moton (blood clot) and Ikem Ekwonu (patellar tendon) are eligible to return.

For now, the Panthers have to face the Lions without Lewis. Kickoff is Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.