CHARLOTTE — The Panthers leaned on their rookies last week, and it paid off in a win against the Miami Dolphins. But the possibility of getting back some experienced pass-catchers this weekend can't help but make Dave Canales smile.

Second-year receiver Jalen Coker (quad) and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) are both listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cowboys. That is a decision that will be made closer to game time, Canales shared Friday, but in their first week of practices back from their respective injuries, both guys showed encouraging progress.

"(Coker) looked great," Canales said. "I think we're still going to have to make a game-time decision on that one, but he just took a little bit more each day, and he looked fast, he looked explosive, and you know we have to make the best decision in combination of guys to help us this week.

"We're going to make a game-time decision, and we closed him with more plays each day to see how he could handle that, and then we'll make a decision sometime tomorrow or on Sunday, as far as his availability this week."

As for Sanders, he will also be a game-time decision, according to Canales. Sanders was never placed on Injured Reserve, so he would not have to be activated ahead of game time. The decision will be based on how Sanders, who practiced all week, albeit in a limited role, handled all three days of practice.

"JT is going to be a game-time decision," said Canales. "We had to look at him throughout the week and see what he can handle there.

"So, we'll be really excited to get JT back out there when we can, but we got to make sure that it's the right thing for him right now, the right thing for the team, and we'll put our heads together tomorrow and and look at all the information, look at the practice film, and just talk to the trainers and everybody all hands on deck to make that decision."

Corner Akayleb Evans (hamstring) is out, as well as tackle Taylor Moton (elbow). Yosh Nijman will replace the latter.

"T-Mo, we couldn't get him turned around quick enough; did not practice today, so Yosh took the reps in the week. He's ready to go," said Canales.

Panthers looking for "violent" runs on offense

Rico Dowdle had a career game on Sunday against the Dolphins, putting up 206 rushing yards and 234 yards from scrimmage. This is a game that Canales acknowledges will mean more to Dowdle, just as a human, given he spent five years with the Cowboys. But all the Panthers need from him this weekend (Dowdle will be starting again with Chuba Hubbard out another week) is to continue to run the way he's shown he can.

"Just looking for him to do the same thing, run with violence, make the most of his opportunities," said Canales. And for that matter, he hopes the attitude applies to the entire offense.

"We're counting on the whole group, you know, and it starts up front, but we're counting on the tight ends as well, tied into all the things, and then the wide receivers to get their hands on people in the run game.

"And I just think the energy that Rico brought to it, how he finished some of those runs, should inspire the whole group. It takes all 11. Let's all come off the ball violently, and it just ties in all those things when you run the ball aggressively like that. It should help our play-action game come alive."

Some familiar faces across the line

The Cowboys and Panthers will face each other for the third straight year this weekend, meaning the two teams are already familiar with each other. But the clubs also signed players from each other's rosters over the last year. Dowdle, of course, came to Charlotte after five years in Dallas. Two players who started for the Panthers last year are also now playing for the Star: running back Miles Sanders and pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney.

"You try to use all the information that you have at your disposal, you know, and that's a part of the nature of competition," Canales said of knowing players on the other side of the field. "The beauty of our game is when you have a little bit more information, how can you use that?"

That can be true for both sides, though. So the focus, said Canales, is to worry more about what they are doing as Panthers than what they can do against someone else.

"It just comes back to one play at a time and executing, you know, and that's hard enough as it is, you know, in a league where there's a lot of talent."