Panthers CB CJ Henderson leaves game with concussion vs. Colts

The Carolina Panthers will be without one of their starting corners for the rest of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. Trailing 10-3 late in the second quarter, the CBS television broadcast updated fans on the injury status of cornerback C.J. Henderson. Henderson has officially been ruled out of the game with a concussion, according to Melanie Collins of CBS.

Henderson was injured in the second quarter of the game and was almost immediately ruled out by the team. The Panthers have already sent 11 players to injured reserve this season–including eight defenders.

With Henderson ruled out, the Panthers will now look to Donte Jackson, D’Shawn Jamison, Troy Hill, and Dicaprio Bootle at corner.

Bleak outlook for Henderson in Week 10

With a short week upcoming for the Carolina Panthers, it seems unlikely that defensive lineman Brian Burns and cornerback CJ Henderson will play in Week 10. Head coach Frank Reich provided a bleak outlook following Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Both Burns and Henderson exited Sunday’s game because of concussion protocol. Because Carolina returns to action on Thursday, Reich suggested that it would be tough for the two to make it back to the field.

Henderson totaled four stops and a tackle for loss prior to his injury. Henderson ended the game with a single tackle. The Panthers dropped to 1-7 on the season with the loss to the Colts on Sunday.

This season, Burns has accounted for 21 total tackles and five sacks. He’s also forced a fumble. Henderson has racked up 34 stops and two passes defended this year.

Henderson played his college football with the Florida Gators, where he was a two-time second team All-SEC standout (2017 and 2018). He also was named first team All-SEC in 2019. He wrapped up his college football career with the Gators with 93 tackles, 26 pass breakups, and six interceptions in 33 games.

In the 2020 NFL Draft, Henderson was a top 10 overall selection, getting picked No. 9 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. In September of 2021, he was traded to the Carolina Panthers with a fifth-round pick in exchange for tight end Dan Arnold and a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Carolina is back in action on Thursday, traveling to Chicago to play the Bears (2-7). Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET and the game airs on Amazon Prime Video.

On3’s Dustin Schutte also contributed to this article.