Samuel out for the season!

[NAS]

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Curtis-Samuel-to-undergo-season-ending-surgery/d06a59a6-b6c2-4b44-bd7b-4561a2d766c9

HARLOTTE – Wide receiver Curtis Samuel’s rookie year is over.

The second-round pick will undergo season-ending surgery on his left ankle and eventually be placed on injured reserve.

Samuel left Monday night’s game against the Dolphins early in the third quarter after his foot turned awkwardly under the weight of Miami safety Reshad Jones in the end zone.

Prior to the injury, Samuel was enjoying the most productive game of his career, recording a career-high five catches for 45 yards in the first half against the Dolphins. As quarterback Cam Newton said, Samuel finally appeared to be “on the cusp.”

“There were a lot of good things,” offensive coordinator Mike Shula said Tuesday. “He had a couple of third-down conversions, and his awareness is becoming better and better as far as finding holes in the zones. He’s doing a better job on releases – just all the little things on route running. He made a tough catch when he got hit hard on a deep cross and held onto it.”

Samuel, who was drafted to threaten defenses with his elite speed, battled a hamstring injury throughout the summer and a high-ankle sprain in his right foot during the early part of the season. But when wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was traded to the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago, Samuel assumed a starting role alongside Devin Funchess.

Now, with Samuel out for the season, the Panthers have to turn to others to inject that much-needed speed.

“It’s kind of a collective effort,” Shula said. “Is there anybody as fast as him? There are some guys on our team that would say yes. We’re going to try hard to find ways to put guys in place for what they do best and then have them go do it.

“One of the best things that happened last night after Curtis left was that we didn’t feel like we really missed a beat. Guys came in and did their job, knew their assignments. Every play we’ve got guys going in and out, and we hardly missed a beat as far as guys going to different positions from one play to another.”

Kaelin Clay, who hauled in his first catch of the season on Monday, will get more opportunities to showcase his speed.

And when Damiere Byrd comes off injured reserve – he’s eligible to do so when the Panthers visit the Jets following the bye week – he can bring more speed to an offense that suddenly finds itself in shorter supply.

"Damiere has progressed very well,” head coach Ron Rivera said. “The fortunate thing for him is it was an arm as opposed to a leg injury, so it's just a matter of time before he's eligible to come back out."

[countryboi]

Man the way his ankle turned...I was shocked when he didn't break it. That said this is much much worse. Bones heal, ligaments don't.

[Leeroy Jenkins PhD]

We need to use this as an opportunity to go steal someone that has been stashed away on a practice squad somewhere.  

For example, lets add some insult to injury and steal TE Thomas Duarte from the Dolphins. 

[Jesse]

Fuuuck. Well better now than come playoffs. This will give some of our other wideouts time to gel with Cam. 

[Hoenheim]

We have a gaping hole at WR #2 and WR #3. No one on this roster is trustworthy other than Funchess. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Sucks, but not exactly unexpected.

[NAS]

I think this means CMC lines up more as WR especially on play action.

[Malt Liquor]

Damiere Byrd and G.O will be back for the game against the jets. Not worried if everybody can step up to the plate.

[Hoenheim]

Just now, NAS said:

I think this means CMC lines up more as WR especially on play action.

McCaffrey doesn't get many looks when hes lined up on the outside 

 

[Thunderbird037]

Just now, Malt Liquor said:

Damiere Byrd and G.O will be back for the game against the jets. Not worried if everybody can step up to the plate.

Byrd isn't back till the Saints game.

[pantherj]

I was stunned when we traded KB and didn't trade for another WR. Now the injury bug has bitten and we're scarping the bottom of the barrel. Granted Byrd is actually faster than Samuel, but can we rely on him to do more that toast 2nd string players? Let's hope.

[AppHeel]

Googled "recovery time for ligament damage in ankle" and got this:

After 6 -10 weeks any boots or casts are usually replaced by an ankle brace. Over the next 6 weeks you may be able to increase your activity level while wearing the brace. Be sure and discuss any return to work with your surgeon. Most patients make a good recovery from ankle ligament repair.

https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/treatments/ankle-ligament-repair 

[The Lobo]

Damn. Time for Clay and Byrd (when he comes back) to step up. We need a burner bad.

[*FreeFua*]

4 minutes ago, Hoenheim said:

We have a gaping hole at WR #2 and WR #3. No one on this roster is trustworthy other than Funchess. 

This has been an issue for how many years?

This organization just doesn’t know how to properly address the WR position. Every draft and offseason we pass on guys who can be difference makers only to sign and draft guys that we do.

I can only pray we get some new blood into the driver seat this offseason.