Panthers have placed a starter on injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s game vs. Vikings
The Carolina Panthers placed punter Joe Charlton on the injured reserve just three days before their game against the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced Thursday.
As a corresponding move, the Panthers have signed safety Kenny Robinson from the practice squad.
Charlton is the only punter on the Panthers’ 53-man roster, but the Panthers have signed Ryan Winslow to the practice squad. Winslow, who previously played for the Bears, Cardinals and Packers, is a candidate for a standard elevation Sunday.
With Charlton out for at least three weeks, the Panthers will have to sign Winslow or another punter. Either way, whomever they sign will also likely hold for field-goal attempts.
Panthers special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn said he expected Winslow to play Sunday.
“He’s gotta be ready,” Blackburn said. “He had a solid first day in his first outing. We’ll make sure everything is detailed up and right for Sunday.”
Charlton first appeared on the injury report Wednesday with a back issue. He finished the Panthers’ game against the Eagles game last Sunday and was limited in practice.
Because he was placed on the IR, Charlton, who was averaging 39.1 yards per punt (35.8 net yards), will miss at least the next three games.
Winslow said it has been a crazy 24 hours. He went from working in his uncle’s apparel store, to telling him he’d have to take time off because he had been signed to the Panthers practice squad and flying to Charlotte.
He said he stuck to a routine at home in Philadelphia. Before work, he’d go kick punts at his former high school three times a week.
Winslow has played in two NFL games (with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019), with a 48.5-yard gross and 44.2-yard net punting average.
During his time in Arizona, he played with kicker Zane Gonzalez and was his holder for field goals.
