The Carolina Panthers were dealt a big blow on Tuesday after placing star defensive end Kawann Short on the injured reserve list, effectively ending the lineman’s 2019 season.
The two-time Pro Bowler, who last made the team last season, suffered a partially torn rotator cuff during the Panthers’ Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After not playing in Carolina’s last two games, the decision was made that Short would have to undergo surgery to fix the rotator cuff and will not be able to return to action this season.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for the Panthers, who have fought back to win their Week 3 and 4 matchups after starting the season 0-2. Short is considered to be one of the anchors of the team’s defensive line and is a defensive team captain.
This is the first time that Short, in fact, is set to miss any significant amount of time in his NFL career. The Purdue alum had missed only two games in his career before his Week 2 injury.
Vernon Butler is set to be tasked with replacing Short’s absence on the Carolina defensive line, which won’t be an easy task considering just how well their new addition to the injured reserve has played in recent years.
