CHARLOTTE — There was a reasonable concern when left guard Damien Lewis left the game early on Sunday. He missed all of two snaps.

Likewise, there was a stretch late when Rico Dowdle limped back to the huddle. He stayed in the game and ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

For Panthers coach Dave Canales, those were signs of what he wants to see from his team, especially considering what they've been through all season.

"He was able to finish all the way through the end of the game, was working through some things," Canales said of Dowdle. "And, just really proud anytime the guys can, are able to go back in there. Damien Lewis, you know, missed a little bit of time, came back and finished.

"Just a couple of different guys that had to work something out, sort something out, and said, look, this team, this game, this moment is too important to me. I'm going to be back out there for my guys and make that happen."

Lewis said after the game he was dealing with a shoulder issue, but that he wasn't coming out.

"Just dealing with a little shoulder banged up from that play that we had before, but I was right back in there," Lewis said simply, because staying in the game is part of the ethos of his group. (Lewis and Ikem have started eight of the nine games, putting them in the lead among linemen, who have shuffled throughout the year).

That kind of determination also plays into one of Canales' other key points, as he always encourages them to finish.

"I'm really proud of this group," Canales said. "Again, counting on all three phases to execute when we needed them to at the end of the game, to be able to play the style of football that we want to play. Being able to run the ball and play physically challenging, a really good team, and was just really proud of the way we came out of the locker room at the half with the mentality, let's finish.

"Let's finish by doing right longer, and that's what happened and took the whole time to get it done, but it was a great effort by the group."

A well-earned Victory Monday

For the first time in the Canales era in Carolina, the Panthers received a "Victory Monday."

"I just talked to the leadership group last week and wanted to make a statement about where we were heading going forward and told them to be heads up and don't be surprised if we have some Victory Monday types of situations as we get here in the season," Canales shared.

The reward, a Monday off given by some coaches to their teams after a Sunday win, hasn't been part of standard practice in Charlotte over the past two years. Derrick Brown said two weeks ago that the Panthers weren't taking Victory Mondays yet because, "We're in the process right now. We're in the process, and the process right now doesn't come with Victory Monday."

But after a hard-fought, close 16-13 win in a tough and cold environment like Lambeau Field, which gave the Panthers their fifth win of the season, the coach knew it was time to give the guys a breather.

"I think it's important with this stretch, you know, as we've talked about, for every Sunday at 1 o'clock for a lot of weeks in a row and just wanting to try to give a little bit of mental space, the physical space, obviously, for recovery," explained Canales. "But then there's a mental, emotional, and a spiritual part to just reconnect with yourself, reconnect with your family after you get your work done here, and then we can regroup and take the next step."

To Brown's original point, there is still a lot to do in building a team. However, as the Panthers define and refine their identity and approach, the process will become increasingly streamlined.

"At this point now, we're seeing what concepts are working for us in all the different phases," explained Canales. "And you know we can really target those things in a focused manner and be efficient with our time.

Of course, the day off didn't stop players from patrolling the halls of Bank of America Stadium, whether they were getting rehab, meeting with coaches, or preparing for the next opponent. Or for some guys, like Tommy Tremble, being a good friend is a priority.

"I'm helping a few friends move to different apartments and stuff like that," shared Tremble. "So while we have the free time, I'm trying to help out teammates."

Then there's Ikem Ekwonu, who is using his Victory Monday perhaps best of all.

"It was pretty much the exact same for me. I went in, you know, got my lift in, got some treatment in, and everything like that—so pretty much the same.

"I might go grab some pie, some dessert or something, you know, celebrate…I don't know if it's in season yet, but I do love a good peach pie, so I might have to find the store, maybe hit Harris Teeter or something, and see if they have them in stock."

Here's to hoping Ickey finds his peach pie.

Trade deadline coming Tuesday

Canales was asked about Tuesday's looming trade deadline, and talked in broad terms about balancing "need and value."

But he also noted that general manager Dan Morgan has long stressed the importance of adding rather than subtracting draft picks as they build.

"I also understand there's a lot more that goes into it, but it's got to be fair value and things have to match up," Canales said. "The need with what you're willing to give up for and understanding that as we put this team together and as we build it, all those picks in the draft are really important for us as we continue to build this team."

"Dan has taken all the things, in terms of just the future of the team, weighing that with right now and the challenges that we have in front of us."

Canales said that having a winning record at this time of year doesn't play into his thought process, since he's already zoomed in on the Saints game Sunday.

Morgan presided over five trades last year during his first year as GM, including acquiring and later trading away wide receiver Diontae Johnson. He also flipped seventh-round linebacker Michael Barrett for a starting corner in Mike Jackson, and sent wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and a seventh-rounder to Dallas for a fourth-rounder in last year's draft, which the Panthers turned into running back Trevor Etienne.

This year, their only deal has been to send Adam Thielen to Minnesota for a collection of picks that are the equivalent of another fourth-rounder. Thielen has five catches for 47 yards this year for the Vikings.

You can see their full list of their future draft picks here.

Paging Hingle McCringleberry

Canales would like a little clarity on the rules and limitations surrounding certain touchdown celebrations, such as the one Dowdle did during Sunday's win against the Panthers. So, he's going to reach out to the man in charge of such things: Keegan-Michael Key.

"I might have to, you know, call up Keegan-Michael Key and make sure I get some clarification on that part of it," the coach joked Monday.

Dowdle referenced the 2013 "Key & Peele" comedy sketch during which Key played football player Hingle McCringleberry, whose patented celebration was limited to two hip pumps. A third would draw a flag.

Well, apparently, the rules set forth in the sketch have not been codified by the NFL. Dowdle drew a flag, much to Key's dismay. The longtime comedian took to social media Sunday night with a shout-out to the Panthers' running back, telling him, "Rico. Man, you got robbed. You only did two pumps. I'm sorry, man. Now I'm going to have to write a new sketch."

Tight end Tommy Tremble wondered if the penalty for unsportsmanlike celebration was because the celebration—which came after Dowdle's second touchdown of the day—included multiple teammates, and the multiplication of the pumps was too much.

"He must have, man, because I was losing my mind thinking we didn't do anything wrong," Tremble said on Monday. "I guess we learned from that. We'll let Rico just do the celebration."

The Panthers can laugh about this now because they still left Green Bay with a win, despite the flag pushing back the extra-point attempt, which ultimately went no good. But Canales acknowledges that all jokes aside, they must be smarter in the future.

"Oh yeah, we got to be smarter in that situation, you know, we got to make sure that we understand the rules," said Canales. "But from what I understand, it's any kind of movement that way, any weapons or all that stuff is going to get flagged. We've got to be smarter about that."

In the meantime, we can all wait on the next Hingle McCringleberry sketch to teach us the new rules.