Misses first games of career

Short (calf) finished the 2018 regular season with 42 tackles (29 solo), three sacks and a forced fumble in 14 games played.

Analysis: Short was rested for Carolina's final two games while nursing a calf injury, marking the first couple absences of his six-year career. Although he remained a menacing interior presence, registering a personal-best 10 stuffs this term, the veteran didn't get to the quarterback as much as usual. After two sacks Week 1, Short only managed one the rest of the season. Considering he racked up 24.5 over the prior three years, Short should be eager to get back to his best in 2019.

Ruled out again

Short (calf) was ruled out for Sunday's game at New Orleans, Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site reports.

Analysis: Short has been battling the calf issue for the last couple of weeks and will finish the season sitting out the last two games. Kyle Love and Vernon Butler should both see increased snap counts alongside Dontari Poe Sunday against the Saints.

Won't play Sunday

Short (calf) is inactive for Sunday's contest against the Falcons, Bryan Strickland of the Panthers' official site reports.

Analysis: Short was expected to play after Friday's practice but will take another week to recover. The Panthers are eliminated from the playoffs and have nothing to gain by having Short play through the injury. Vernon Butler and Kyle Love will figure to see some extra snaps while Short is out.

Unlikely to play

Short (calf) isn't expected to play in Sunday's game versus the Falcons, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: With the Panthers out of playoff contention, there's no reason for the team to rush its top defensive tackle back into the lineup. Short's having a down year with just three sacks after recording 24.5 over the previous three seasons. Expect both Vernon Butler and Kyle Love to see upticks in usage Sunday.

Questionable for Sunday

Short (calf) is officially questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Analysis: Short may have received the questionable tag, but coach Ron Rivera said Friday he would "be surprised if he doesn't play." The 29-year-old played through the injury Week 15 and was on the field for 47 of 75 defensive snaps, a fairly standard workload for the defensive tackle.

Set to go Monday night

Short (calf) is active for Monday night's game against the Saints, Bryan Strickland of the Panthers' official site reports.

Analysis: Short suffered a calf injury in practice this week and was originally listed as doubtful before being upgraded to questionable. The 29-year-old defensive tackle will look to add to his three sacks Monday night.

Upgraded to questionable

Short (calf) has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable for Monday's game against the Saints, Max Henson of Panthers.com reports.

Analysis: Head coach Ron Rivera has been optimistic regarding Short's Week 15 availability despite the defensive tackle's inability to practice heading into the weekend. Short is on track to play Monday, though Vernon Butler and Kyle Love could be in line for additional reps next to Dontari Poe.

Listed as doubtful

Short (calf) is doubtful for Monday's contest against the Saints, Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site reports.

Analysis: Head coach Ron Rivera suggested he "still has no concern" regarding Short's status, which seems puzzling given the defensive tackle has been unable to practice all week. If Short were to be ruled out, Vernon Butler would step in at defensive tackle, but it seems likely that information will get sorted out until closer to kickoff.

Misses practice Friday

Short (calf) didn't practice Friday, Bill Voth of the Panthers' official site reports.

Analysis: Short was a limited participant Thursday but was downgraded Friday to a non-participant. Coach Ron Rivera says "there is no concern" for Short's status this week. Short still has Saturday to prove he can play Monday against the Saints.

Adds to sack total

Short recorded three tackles (two solo) and a sack in Sunday's 24-17 loss to Tampa Bay.

Analysis: Short sacked Jameis Winston for a loss of 10 yards in the second quarter of Sunday's loss. The Panthers ended up racking up four sacks, though that wasn't enough to stop the Buccaneers. Poe now has three sacks on the season and his first since Week 1. He'll look to keep it going against a formidable Cleveland offensive line.

Two sacks in win

Short recorded two tackles and two sacks across 35 defensive snaps in Sunday's win over the Cowboys.

Analysis: Short anchored the Panthers' defensive line on Sunday, holding Ezekiel Elliot to 69 yards in the contest. In addition to his two sacks, he also played a key role in Mario Addison's strip sack of Dak Prescott, as Short took on a double-team of blocks from the Cowboys' line.

Returns to practice

Short (hand) suited up for practice Monday, Max Henson of the Panthers' official site reports.

Analysis: Short was also spotted without a cast on his left hand. Ranked as the No. 3 defensive tackle by Pro Football Focus last year behind Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh, Short's full recovery guarantees his starting position. Having recorded 24.5 sacks over the last three seasons, the 28-year-old enters the 2018 campaign as an elite player at his position.

Short finished the 2017 regular season with 49 tackles (27 solo), 7.5 sacks, two fumbles forced and one fumble recovery across 16 games.

Analysis: Short continues to put up excellent numbers for an interior defensive lineman, evidencing just why Carolina awarded him a five-year, $80 million contract last offseason. For reference, only three defensive tackles posted more sacks than Short this season, yet none of them totaled more tackles. With an average of 53 tackles along with a combined 24.5 sacks over the last three seasons, the 28-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best players in the NFL at his position.

Short compiled five tackles, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble Sunday against the Buccaneers.

Analysis: Shorts stellar performance comes one week removed from being blanked across the fantasy stat line in Week 15 against the Packers. This kind of inconsistency can be difficult for fantasy owners to deal with in the midst of fantasy championships, especially against Matt Ryan, who has been sacked on just 4.5 percent of his dropbacks, ranking eighth in the league in said category.

Short had three solo tackles and two sacks against the Vikings on Sunday.

Analysis: Short accrued 51 of 74 defensive snaps Sunday. Getting to Vikings QB Case Keenum twice is quite the accomplishment, as Keenum boasts the second-best sack percentage in the league (3.58 percent). With a Week 15 matchup against QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, it'll be tough to replicate this performance.