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'Don't Count Me Out!' Shaq Thompson Begins Road to Recovery

Surgery was a success for the Carolina Panthers veteran linebacker.
Schuyler Callihan|
'Don't Count Me Out!' Shaq Thompson Begins Road to Recovery
'Don't Count Me Out!' Shaq Thompson Begins Road to Recovery

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Carolina Panthers

Monday night, the Carolina Panthers lost the heart and soul of their defense, Shaq Thompson, potentially for the season. 

Thompson's right leg was smashed into the ground by New Orleans Saints left tackle Trevor Penning, who was thrown down by Panthers defensive lineman DeShawn Williams. Right away, you could tell it was a pretty serious injury and it didn't take long for a cart to drive onto the turf at Bank of America Stadium to help Thompson to the locker room. 

First thing Tuesday morning, Thompson underwent a successful surgery (fractured fibula) and is ready to attack his rehab.

"It's hard to put that into words," Reich said when asked about what the loss of Thompson means for this team. "We talk about a brotherhood, he is a close brother. 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 was already talking about trying to figure out ways to get back and this was all before he had the news. But he was trying to figure out all the ways to help the team. These injuries hurt. As I said yesterday and as I will continue to say, the train has got to keep on going. You can love your brother and feel bad for your brother, but at the same time we've got to understand we have to have the next man up mentality."

Thompson is currently on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the next four games but the expectation is that he will not play again this season.

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Schuyler Callihan
SCHUYLER CALLIHAN

Schuyler Callihan is the publisher of West Virginia On SI and has been a trusted source covering the Mountaineers since 2016. He is the host of Between The Eers, The Walk Thru Game Day Show, and In the Gun Podcast. The Wheeling, WV native moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2020 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Panthers.

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