CHARLOTTE — Rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was added to the injury report Friday with a hamstring injury and listed as questionable, but Panthers head coach Dave Canales said there's still hope that he can get back on the field Sunday against the Saints.

Canales called it "precautionary" and said of McMillan: "Something popped up in practice, so you know we shut him down for part of it."

"We'll look at him again tomorrow morning, though, just to make sure that he's ready to go," Canales said. "We'll just take a look at him tomorrow and see where he's at, hoping he can go."

McMillan has 41 catches for 558 yards and two touchdowns this season, second among rookie receivers in yards.

The Panthers have been starting Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker along with the first-rounder, and have been using Jimmy Horn Jr. more in recent weeks, along with special teamer Brycen Tremayne. Tremayne is listed as questionable this week as well.

Hunter Renfrow has been inactive the last three weeks, but has stepped up in big moments earlier this season, including two touchdowns against the Cardinals in Week 2, and the crucial fourth-down conversion against the Cowboys.

"I'm so glad Hunter's here," Canales said. "Just the way that he goes about his work, what he's been, his reputation speaks for itself. And you know the way that he works and the way that he's focused and locked in, it really affects the group in a positive way."

They also have Dan Chisena, Ja'seem Reed, and Ainias Smith on the practice squad.

The revolving door at right guard continues

Chandler Zavala spent weeks working his way back after a Week 4 injury. His first action after returning, though, resulted in another hiccup to his season. The guard left Sunday's game against the Packers with an elbow injury. He was unable to recover in time for this coming Week 11 matchup and is officially considered out for Sunday.

"No specific timetable," Canales shared on Friday about Zavala's status as of now. "We'll just give him—he'll be out this week, but we'll reevaluate him through the weekend, certainly, look at him on Monday and see if we can't get him back out."

As of now, Zavala is considered "week to week" according to Canales.

The Panthers could be getting help back at the right guard position eventually, though. Starter Robert Hunt, who left the Week 2 matchup with an biceps injury, has seen an increase in his rehab and return-to-play work. For now, it's about ensuring his cardio is where it needs to be for a return, Canales explained, with rehab work continuing on his upper body.

"I know he's running around and moving, doing a lot of, still his upper body rehab," said Canales. "But he's getting his legs going and making sure that his cardio-based and lower body strength is there as his arm continues to catch up in RTP (return to play), and so they're bringing him along."

As for now, the coach said, "I can't give you a specific timeline," but shared the Pro Bowler is "right on track and he's into it."

What works in the Panthers' favor here is that if the wins keep stacking and a playoff push is possible, there is a late bye week, Week 14 this season, after which only four games remain, three of which are division games, and all are NFC games.

"There may be a thing, it gives us an opportunity to go into the bye week to kind of evaluate where he's at physically," Canales explained. "So that gives us a little bit more space and time having four games after the bye to kind of evaluate that.

"But again, it's going to be week-to-week and it's all going to depend on making sure that he can do his job well, in a safe manner, or he's not putting himself at risk."

Austin Corbett is going to start this week at right guard, making eight different combinations of starters in 10 weeks.

Rico Dowdle ready to roll

Running back Rico Dowdle, who leads the NFC and is fourth in the NFL in rushing, was cleared on Friday after missing Wednesday's practice with a quadriceps issue.

He has no game status on the injury report.

"Rico looked great," Canales said. "He had a full day, a full day of work, and really looking forward to him on Sunday."

Dowdle has 735 rushing yards for the season, after 130 yards last week in Green Bay.

That made him the fourth player in franchise history with three games of 125 yards or more in the same season, joining Stephen Davis (five games in 2003), Christian McCaffrey (four in 2019) and DeAngelo Williams (three in 2008 and 2009).