Tag: Shaq Thompson

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson: ‘It’s a sad day’

Shaq Thompson summed up a pretty rough day for Panthers fans.

Shaq Thompson was all of us on Monday.

The opening of this year’s legal tampering period brought some punishing blows for the Carolina Panthers and their fans. We started the eventful and exhausting afternoon by taking the expected release of safety Vonn Bell on the chin and went on to eat two gut punches with the loss of linebacker Frankie Luvu and the trade of pass rusher Brian Burns.

With the defense losing three key members, one of its leaders tweeted this in the painful aftermath:

 

Thompson then went on to see another fellow backer in Yetur Gross-Matos find a new home, as he reportedly has a two-year, $18 million deal in place with the San Francisco 49ers. The dearly departed will also include tight end Hayden Hurst, center Bradley Bozeman and cornerback Donte Jackson—all of whom are expected to be let go before March 16.

Sadly enough, the second-longest tenured Panther may be next. Thompson, who turns 30 years old in April, is entering the final season of a reworked pact.

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Panthers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominees since 2014

Here are the last 10 Panthers who have bene nominated for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Only one Carolina Panther is up for some hardware at tonight’s NFL Honors—and that’s center Bradley Bozeman, who is the team’s nominee for the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The “White Rhino” has not only exhibited excellence on the field, but he’s been a presence in the community off of it—through the charitable work of the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation.

So, to bring him a little luck, let’s get some good vibes going and look back at the organization’s last 10 nominees for the prestigious honor.

Shaq Thompson on if Panthers want him in 2024: ‘That’s on them’

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson: Does Carolina want me here? That’s on them.

2023 was, by far, the most painful season Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson has had to endure. Nonetheless, he may still want to run it back in Charlotte for 2024.

The nine-year defender had his ninth year cut short, as he fractured his fibula in just the second game of the season. But Thompson, who recently spoke with DaShawn Brown of WSOC-TV, said he’s looking forward to the next chapter with new general manager Dan Morgan.

“I’m excited,” he said of Morgan. “If I was an owner of a team, I would definitely want somebody who played the game at a high, high level. Because that guy knows what type of players to get, because he was that player. That guy knows who to scout, what we need—and Dan, to me, is the perfect fit.”

But will the Morgan-led front office end up keeping the veteran backer around for next season?

Brown also asked Thompson if he wants to stick around.

“Definitely where I wanna be,” he replied. “Does Carolina want me here? That’s on them. Let’s just keep it real. It’s a business.”

Thompson, who turns 30 years old in April, has one year of playing time left on his contract. After 2024, the contract—which was reworked last offseason—holds three voided years through 2027.

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Shaq Thompson on David Tepper’s drink toss: ‘You can’t do that’

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson on David Tepper’s drink toss: ‘You can’t do that’

Shaq Thompson has probably seen quite a bit during his nine-year tenure with the Carolina Panthers. But what happened at EverBank Stadium this past Sunday may have been a first for him.

Soon after the team’s 26-0 loss on New Year’s Eve, a video of owner David Tepper tossing his drink towards Jacksonville Jaguars fans had emerged. On Wednesday, the elder statesman of the team was asked about his thoughts on the incident.

“You can’t do that,” Thompson said, per ESPN’s David Newton. “I don’t advise nobody to throw a drink on nobody. That’s just what it is. But I’ll let him address that.”

Tepper, after two days, finally addressed it in a statement on Tuesday evening:

I am deeply passionate about this team and regret my behavior on Sunday. I should have let NFL stadium security handle any issues that arose. I respect the NFL’s code of conduct and accept the League’s discipline for my behavior.

The league fined Tepper $300,000 for what they classified as “unacceptable conduct.”

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Panthers still trying to work through replacing Shaq Thompson

The Panthers and DC Ejiro Evero are still trying to figure out how to replace LB Shaq Thompson.

Shaq Thompson has been a Carolina Panther for almost a decade—and that’s not by happenstance. So, it may not be easy to just replace him.

Unfortunately, that’ll be the task for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and his unit—as the 29-year-old linebacker and team captain is likely lost for the season due to a fractured fibula. Evero was asked on Thursday about how he plans on filling the huge void in the middle of his defense.

“We are still trying to work through all those different things,” he replied. “We felt really good about how Kamu [Grugier-Hill] played in the game. Debo [Deion Jones], obviously, is gonna be up now. He’s gonna provide some depth, and we’re kinda workin’ through all those rotational things. Chandler Wooten is in play. So, we’re kinda considerin’ everybody.”

After Thompson was carted away in the first quarter of Monday night’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints, Grugier-Hill stepped up with an impressive relief appearance. The eighth-year defender, who’s really considered more of a special teamer, recorded six tackles and a sack in Carolina’s 20-17 loss.

Evero then spoke about what Grugier-Hill, and Jones, can bring in an expanded role.

“Very athletic, very smart, very stable,” he replied. “But, ya know, him and Debo are very similar type of players. They’re both guys that are . . . really good skill set in terms of coverage, runnin’ to the ball. Both smart guys.”

Jones was signed to the active roster on Wednesday. The former Pro Bowler had spent the last week and change as a member of the team’s practice squad.

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Panthers add Deion Jones to active roster

After losing LB Shaq Thompson, the Panthers have added former Pro Bowler Deion Jones to their active roster.

The Carolina Panthers needed some help in the middle of their defense following the devastating, and likely season-ending, injury to Shaq Thompson. So, they officially added it on Wednesday.

As announced by the team, linebacker Deion Jones has been brought up to the active roster. He had been a member of the practice squad for the past week, signing back to the locker room on Sept. 11.

Jones first joined the Panthers as a free agent during the summer. But, in a bit of a surprise, the former Pro Bowler was released during the team’s cutdown to their initial 53-man roster.

Head coach Frank Reich offered a bit of insight into how the defense may go about replacing Thompson, who underwent successful surgery on his fibula on Tuesday.

“Kamu [Grugier-Hill] played very well,” he said this afternoon. “So, he’s gonna get a lot of play. We might rotate some through. We’re gonna continue to evaluate that. Kamu is also such a great special teams contributor. So we just gotta weight out how we’re gonna approach that.”

Quarterback Jake Luton, who also spent the offseason with Carolina, was signed into Jones’ vacant spot on the practice squad.

The Panthers also swapped out cornerbacks within the group—releasing Mark Milton and signing former Los Angeles Ram Robert Rochell.

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Panthers place Shaq Thompson on IR

The Panthers have officially placed LB Shaq Thompson on IR.

As announced on Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers have officially placed linebacker Shaq Thompson on injured reserve.

The ninth-year veteran sustained a fractured fibula in the first quarter of last night’s 20-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He was carted off the field after Saints offensive lineman Trevor Penning was thrown into the back of his leg on the tail end of a tackle.

Head coach Frank Reich, who confirmed the break earlier this afternoon, had the following to say about Thompson:

“I am, unfortunately, able to confirm that it is a fractured fibula. And he did have a successful surgery this morning, he’s doin’ well. But he will likely miss the remainder of the season.

“So, tough loss. Obviously, he’s a great player. He’s our emotional leader. I know the guys will pick it up for him, and I know he’s behind us and supportin’ us every way he can.”

Thompson now joins tight end Stephen Sullivan, left guard Brady Christensen, outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr. and cornerback Jaycee Horn on the injured reserve list.

The move also opens up an additional roster spot for the Panthers, who are now carrying 51 players.

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Shaq Thompson will likely miss remainder of season with fractured fibula

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson has undergone surgery on a fractured fibula and is likely to miss the remainder of the 2023 season.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson probably won’t see the field again in this, his ninth NFL season.

Head coach Frank Reich told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that Thompson, who was carted off in the first quarter of last night’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints, is likely done for the rest of the 2023 campaign.

“I am, unfortunately, able to confirm that it is a fractured fibula,” Reich said solemnly. “And he did have a successful surgery this morning, he’s doin’ well. But he will likely miss the remainder of the season.

“So, tough loss. Obviously, he’s a great player. He’s our emotional leader. I know the guys will pick it up for him, and I know he’s behind us and supportin’ us every way he can.”

Thompson sustained the injury after Saints left tackle Trevor Penning was tossed into his leg from behind.

Kamu Grugier-Hill came on to replace him, finishing with six tackles and a sack over 60 defensive snaps.

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Shaq Thompson sustains ‘significant ankle injury’ in Week 2

According to HC Frank Reich, LB Shaq Thompson will likely miss “some extended time” after sustaining what he described as a significant ankle injury.

The Carolina Panthers are already down one of their top defenders in cornerback Jaycee Horn, who just underwent surgery on an injured hamstring. So, what happened early in Monday night’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints certainly won’t help.

Following the 20-17 loss, head coach Frank Reich told reporters that linebacker Shaq Thompson sustained a “significant ankle injury,” one that’ll presumably keep him sidelined for quite a bit.

“Probably gonna miss some extended time, but we need some further evaluation tomorrow with the docs,” Reich said. “So we’ll give you the information when we have a full evaluation.”

The ninth-year veteran left during the first quarter of the contest, after Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning was thrown into his ankle by defensive lineman DeShawn Williams. He would have to be carted off the field and was replaced by Kamu Grugier-Hill.

Thompson, now 29 years old, played in all 17 games for Carolina last season—notching a career-high 135 combined tackles.

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Shaq Thompson leaves Week 2 game with shin injury

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson (shin) is doubtful to return tonight.

Shaq Thompson’s ninth career home opener came to an early end on Monday night.

The veteran linebacker was carted off the field during the first quarter of tonight’s Week 2 matchup between the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints.

Thompson, who made the tackle of quarterback Taysom Hill on a first-and-10 run, had his foot rolled on by a little extracurricular activity. That unfortunate turn of events saw Saints left tackle Trevor Penning get tossed into Thompson by Panthers defensive lineman DeShawn Williams.

Thompson would then be met on the cart by his teammates, who came off the sideline to send the respected leader off into the locker room.

The Panthers have listed Thompson with a shin injury. He is doubtful to return to the contest.

Kamu Grugier-Hill has since replaced Thompson in the middle of the Carolina defense. Along with Grugier-Hill, the Panthers also have fellow inside backers Chandler Wooten and Claudin Cherelus in uniform.

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