Running back Fozzy Whittaker has torn his ACL and will be placed on injured reserve, ending his 2018 NFL season before it began, the Panthers announced this afternoon; the former Texas Longhorn suffered the injury during Monday’s practice during Phase 2 of the team’s offseason drill – the team announced that it was a non-contact, on-field drill.
The 5’10, 205 pound running back, who joined the Panthers in 2014, had rushed for 615 yards and caught 68 balls for 552 yards over the course of his career, but was an effective weapon on both third down and in the kickoff return game during the 43 games he played for Carolina, where he returned 38 kicks over the past four seasons.
Fozzy Whittaker turns Cam Newton’s throw-away pass into beautiful 28-yard touchdown!!! pic.twitter.com/dTDptrvT0E
— TheRenderNFL (@TheRenderNFL) October 1, 2017
With Whittaker placed on injured reserve, the Panthers currently have second-year pro Christian McCaffrey, recently signed CJ Anderson, former fifth-rounder Cameron Artis-Payne and Charlottean Elijah Hood as the running backs currently on the roster, with undrafted free agent Reggie Bonnafon, who played multiple positions at the University of Louisville, expected to sign over the weekend during rookie mini-camp.
2018 was to be the final year of Whittaker’s contract; he is due to make $1.15m this season.
