The Carolina Panthers continue to face adversity during their disastrous one-win campaign. They fired their head coach earlier this month, persist in getting poor play from their rookie quarterback, and have had a fair share of their offensive players hit the injured reserve (IR). The lengthy list of players going on the shelf includes linebacker Shaq Thompson, safety Jeremy Chinn, and offensive linemen Cade Mays and Chandler Zavala, among others. However, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, you can add another Panther to the injured list, with wide receiver Laviska Shenault landing on the injured reserve on Thursday.
Panthers placed WR Laviska Shenault on injured reserve due to an ankle injury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 30, 2023
Shenault failed to practice this week with an ankle injury. He left last Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans. Shenault caught his only target for eight yards before his departure.
Carolina Panthers WR Laviska Shenault: Uninspiring Fourth-NFL Season
Shenault, the 42nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, joined the Panthers last season, catching 27 passes for 272 yards and a score. He also rushed nine times for 65 yards and a score. However, with the offseason additions of receivers Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, and rookie Jonathan Mingo, Shenault lost out on playing time this year despite his ability to run and catch the ball. The 25-year-old has caught just ten passes for 60 yards this season while taking 12 carries for 55 yards.
Shenault began his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. He shined as a rookie, snagging 58 passes for 600 yards and five touchdowns. He registered another 63 receptions and a career-best 619 yards in 2021. However, the Jaguars traded the Colorado product in 2022 to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for two late-round draft picks.
Carolina Panthers: Wide Receiver Depth Chart
The Panthers’ already dormant offense loses little with Laviska Shenault on the mend. They will continue to lean heavily on wide receiver Adam Thielen to finish the season. He leads the team by a wide margin in receptions (77), receiving yards (728), and receiving touchdowns (four). They will also use a good amount of DJ Chark and Jonathan Mingo. Chark has 20 catches this season, while Mingo is fresh off a four-catch, 60-yard performance last Sunday. However, Mingo is dealing with an Achilles injury and is questionable for Week 13. Quarterback Bryce Young has struggled regardless of his pass catchers, throwing for 1,877 yards and nine scores against eight picks in ten games.
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