Panthers have placed a starter on injured reserve
Carolina Panthers starting left guard Pat Elflein will go on the team’s short-term injured reserve with a hamstring injury, The Observer first reported Tuesday.
The Panthers later announced the news Tuesday afternoon; he will miss at least three weeks.
Elflein suffered the injury in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Saints and did not return. On Monday, Panthers coach Matt Rhule ruled Elflein out for Thursday’s game.
The Panthers will likely start Dennis Daley in his place. Elflein’s designation will allow the Panthers to add cornerback A.J. Bouye to the 53-man roster without having to release a player.
Bouye was suspended the first two games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Elflein also served as the Panthers’ backup center, meaning Carolina will likely need to elevate backup Sam Tecklenburg from the practice squad again.
Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, who suffered an ankle injury Sunday, will also be out Thursday, but he wasn’t added to IR.
He and Elflein were absent from practice Tuesday.
“He was feeling like he could play this game. I don’t think he’ll play this game, obviously,” Rhule said of Gross-Matos. “I’m hopeful for next week. It’s a low ankle, it’s not a high ankle (sprain)... . So we’ll just have to wait and see, play it by ear.”
