Shaq Thompson announces surgery for broken leg was successful

Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson announced Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the surgery on his broken fibula was successful.

“Surgery was a success! Road to recovery,” Thompson posted.

Thompson suffered the injury in Monday night’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. He was placed on IR the following day.

Surgery was a success! Road to recovery #KeepPounding

— Shaq Thompson (@ShaqThompson_7) September 20, 2023

“It’s hard to put into words; we talk about a brotherhood, he’s just a close brother,” Reich said Tuesday. “This is a warrior. This is a guy who knows how to practice. He knows how to play. He’s a team-first player. I was texting him last night, and he’s already talking about trying to figure out ways he’s going to get back. This is before he has all the news on all the stuff, but you know, trying to figure out a way he’s going to help the team.”

Thompson has spent his entire career with the Panthers after getting drafted out of Washington in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has finished the past four seasons with at least 100 tackles in each of them.

Last season, Thompson had played a career-high 17 games and finished the season with a career-best 135 tackles.

The Panthers signed linebacker Deion Jones on Wednesday off their practice squad to add some depth to their active linebacker core. Jones finished the 2022 season with 44 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, three passes defended, an interception, and a forced fumble in 11 games for the Cleveland Browns.

He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2016 NFL Draft out of LSU. Jones made the Pro Bowl in 2017.

Thompson isn’t the only injury concern to come out of Monday’s game. Starting quarterback Bryce Young missed Wednesday’s practice, which was a light practice, with an ankle injury.

The Panthers are doing their best to limit the hits Young will face this season, which has included using Andy Dalton for quarterback sneaks.

“Some of those things you just want to limit the exposure of Bryce to,” Reich told reporters. “Bryce can do any of it, but you got an experienced veteran. There’s no golden rule that says he can’t come in and play a couple plays in the game. Look what the Saints did. I know Taysom Hill’s a different story, but why not do that to a lesser extent if it can be utilized in a positive way?”