Linebacker Claudin Cherelus is officially on injured reserve, meaning he’s gonna miss at least four games for the Panthers. This dude’s shoulder injury from Week 2 is no joke, and it leaves a real hole, especially for their special teams unit, just as things are heating up early in the season. Cherelus was ruled out on Friday and then put on IR Saturday.
Cherelus Hits IR, Njongmeta Steps Up
That’s a quick turnaround and tells you how serious that shoulder injury must be for Cherelus. He played 36 special teams snaps in the first two weeks of the season, chipping in with one tackle. Those are the kinds of reps that add up, right? Losing that kind of special teams depth early can absolutely impact field position and game momentum. To fill that spot, the Panthers grabbed linebacker Maema Njongmeta straight from their practice squad. Njongmeta’s got a little experience from last year, making 10 tackles in 15 games for them. He’s gotta step up big time, especially with Cherelus sidelined for the next month.
Offensive Depth Concerns Mount Early
But the defense isn’t the only spot getting a shake-up. The Panthers also elevated wide receiver Chris Moore and running back Anthony Tyus for Sunday’s game against the Browns. Why? Well, it’s a double whammy at receiver with Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette both listed as questionable. That’s a tough blow for an offense trying to find its rhythm and establish a passing game. And Tyus isn’t just some random addition; he’s filling a void left by Jonathon Brooks, who got moved to injured reserve earlier this week. It really shows you how quickly injuries can pile up and force teams to dig deep into their roster just a few weeks into the season.
It’s going to be a real test for the Panthers this Sunday against the Browns. They’re going into that game down some key guys and bringing up practice squad players on both sides of the ball. Everyone needs to step up, because every game matters, especially early when you’re trying to figure out your squad’s identity and where you stand in the league.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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