A rough season has gotten even rougher for Carolina Panthers guard Chandler Zavala.
As first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the rookie offensive lineman is being placed on injured reserve. He will now, per the team’s official release, miss the remainder of the campaign due to the knee injury he sustained in this past Sunday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans.
The Panthers selected Zavala in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. A hamstring injury would delay the youngster’s summer debut, as he spent the early portion of training camp on the team’s active/physically unable to perform list.
Despite that, Zavala returned in time to claim the starting job at right guard to begin the regular season. He would, however, suffer another setback—as the 6-foot-5, 332-pounder was carted off the field in the team’s Week 5 outing against the Detroit Lions with a neck injury.
Zavala would miss the next four games due to a stinger. He returned in Week 11 as the starting left guard.
Per Pro Football Focus, Zavala has allowed 33 pressures over 233 pass-blocking opportunities. His 7.1 pass-blocking grade is the worst amongst all offensive linemen who have played in at least five games this season.
As a measure of insurance for their battered interior line, which will also be without Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen, the Panthers added nine-year veteran Gabe Jackson to the practice squad.
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