Panthers DE Jared Allen (broken foot) returns to practice before Super Bowl
Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Allen participated in practice on Wednesday, increasing the likelihood he will play in Super Bowl 50 after sustaining a broken foot in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Allen did not play in the NFC Championship Game against the Arizona Cardinals. Before the game he said he felt ready to play, but coach Ron Rivera decided to rule him out as a precaution.
“Jared’s was really about rest,” Rivera said Wednesday. “He’s been going full blast since we started, and the doctors wanted to just make sure. So he earned the rest.”
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Immediately after Allen sustained the injury in the Panthers’ 31–24 win over the Seattle Seahawks, there was fear he would be knocked out for the remainder of the playoffs.
Having the five-time Pro Bowler back on the field will benefit the Panthers as they prepare to face the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
Allen finished the regular season with two sacks and 19 tackles, 15 of which were for the Panthers after he spend the first three games of the season with the Chicago Bears.
- Erin Flynn
