CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson has suffered a season-ending damage for the second straight yr.
Thompson tore his Achilles in the course of the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Financial institution of America Stadium.
The twenty fifth decide of the 2015 draft out of the College of Washington suffered a season-ending damaged fibula final yr throughout a Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Thompson indicated on his Instagram Story that he has no plans to retire. Thompson wrote, “Yall suppose ima retire!! Ahah yeah proper! I will [be] again!”
The Panthers additionally will probably be with out linebacker Josey Jewell, who performs inside subsequent to Thompson within the 3-4 scheme, for no less than a few weeks with a hamstring/groin damage suffered within the fourth quarter.
However Thompson’s damage, due to the severity of it and what he has meant to the crew for a very long time, hit the toughest.
“Simply sick for Shaq,” coach Dave Canales mentioned. “A man that actually cares a lot, performs with a lot ardour, a vocal chief, anyone’s who’s had my again all through this course of. [He’s one of those] those who I can ask to guide a cost for this factor that we’re trying to get extra of.
“So, a man that stood for all these issues, Panthers soccer all the best way, via and thru.”
Thompson was capable of stroll off the sector below his personal energy Sunday however later was carted off to the locker room with a towel over his head and his head bowed.
Thompson, 30, is in his tenth season. He and long-snapper JJ Jansen are the one remaining gamers from the 2015 crew that had an NFL-leading 15-1 regular-season document and made it to the Tremendous Bowl.
He has endured a stretch with just one successful season since then, although. The Panthers seem headed for a seventh straight dropping season with the crew 1-3 heading into Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Chicago Bears.
Thompson was having one among his finest seasons, main the crew with 35 tackles. Canales mentioned rookie Trevin Wallace and third-year participant Chandler Wooten are first as much as substitute Thompson and Jewell.
Thompson was one among 4 gamers voted crew captain by the gamers for this season. The others had been defensive lineman Derrick Brown, who suffered a season-ending knee damage within the opener, benched quarterback Bryce Younger and security Sam Franklin Jr., who started the season on injured reserve with a damaged foot.
It’s not instantly recognized whether or not the substitute turf at Financial institution of America Stadium impacted Thompson’s damage. However it was a noncontact damage, and no participant has been extra of an advocate for proprietor David Tepper to return to pure grass.
Thompson was significantly outspoken in 2022 for the change after the turf was changed by grass for an exhibition soccer match.
“It is in all probability going to take all of us to cease going to follow till we get grass,” Thompson mentioned on the time. “I imply they make sufficient cash off of us to keep up grass. I hate to say this, however with our final proprietor [Jerry Richardson] we had grass. … Take heed to your gamers. We need to play on grass.”
Canales declined to take a position on whether or not Thompson’s damage was turf associated.
“I am not an professional on turf, so I’ve obtained to depart it as much as them,” he mentioned.
