AP

Panthers coach Ron Rivera always leans toward the optimistic.

So if he’s saying on Thursday that new defensive end Jared Allen probably won’t play this week, it might be serious.

Via Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review, Rivera repeated “we have to be smart” several times when discussing the veteran pass-rusher, and said it was more likely than not that he wouldn’t play this week.

Allen said yesterday the pinched nerve in his back was causing problems elsewhere, and that he was “trying to get feeling back in my foot.”

The Panthers acquired Allen in trade to cover for Charles Johnson, who was placed on injured reserve/designated for return with a hamstring problem. That leaves them thin again at a position they weren’t deep at to begin with, heading into Sunday’s trip to Seattle.