Panthers place linebacker/special teamer Luiji Vilain on injured reserve

The Panthers added another linebacker to injured reserve. This time it was Luiji Vilain, who’d been on the practice squad since late last month.

Vilain, who is primarily a special teamer. injured his knee last Sunday in a loss to the Colts. He’ll be out at least four games with an IR distinction. The Panthers made the move late Tuesday, hours after they placed linebacker Chandler Wooten on injured reserve after he sprained his ankle in a loss to Indy.

The Panthers already had signed Blake Martinez, a linebacker who left the NFL a year ago to sell Pokeman collectibles, to the practice squad to help with depth at linebacker.

Getting back to Vilain, he spent the majority of his NFL career with the Vikings. He got to the NFL by way of Wake Forest with a side trip to Michigan. And, the Canadian was drafted in the CFL, but not the NFL. The Panthers signed him off the Vikings practice squad, Oct. 24. Last Sunday, before he was injured, Vilian saw action on four special teams snaps.

The Panthers also made a major injury announcement, Tuesday. Coach Frank Reich said that star rusher Brian Burns is in concussion protocol and won’t play Thursday night against the Bears. It’s a short week for Carolina, so it’s an inopportune time for injuries.

Plus, injuries are zapping the Panthers depth chart. Other Carolina linebackers who are on IR include Yetur Gross-Matos, Justin Houston, Shaq Thompson, and Claudin Cherelus.

Panthers injury list through Tuesday

Player	Position	Injury	Mon	Tue	Wed	Game Status
Brian Burns	LB	Concussion/elbow	DNP	DNP		Unspecified
DJ Chark	WR	Elbow	DNP	DNP		Unspecified
C.J. Henderson	CB	Concussion	DNP	DNP		Unspecified
Laviska Shenault Jr.	WR	Ankle	DNP	DNP		Unspecified
Stephen Sullivan	TE	Shoulder	DNP	DNP		Unspecified
Luiji Vilain	LB	Knee	DNP	DNP		Out
Xavier Woods	FS	Thigh	DNP	DNP		Unspecified
Vonn Bell	S	Quadriceps	FP	FP		Unspecified
Raheem Blackshear	RB	Ankle	FP	FP		Unspecified
Ikem Ekwonu	OT	Ankle	FP	FP		Unspecified
Marquis Haynes	LB	Back	FP	FP		Unspecified
Frankie Luvu	LB	Hip	FP	FP		Unspecified
Tommy Tremble	TE	Shoulder	FP	FP		Unspecified