The Carolina Panthers have made the expected roster move of cutting ties with offensive tackle Michael Oher after two tumultuous seasons with the club. Oher started all 16 games during the Panthers Super Bowl run in 2015, but entered the NFL’s concussion protocol in September of 2016 after suffering an injury in the Panthers third game of that season and did not play in another game.
Oher failed a physical Thursday, prompting the move, and the team will save $1.69 million by making the roster move, with a $2 million cap hit coming in 2018 . ESPN’s David Newton reports that the 31-year-old Oher is guaranteed $900,000 as part of his injury protection benefits. The former Panther ran into trouble this offseason and is due in court this week for a hearing involving an alleged altercation with an Uber driver in Nashville.
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Oher has been in the league’s concussion protocol since last September and did not participate in mandatory team activities earlier this summer, although he did report and meet with team doctors. The Panthers are prepared to move forward with veteran Daryl Williams, who took over for Oher last season, as their starting tackle, with free agent acquisition Matt Kalil occupying the other side of the line. The Panthers also drafted tackle Taylor Moton to help build tackle depth; Moton is expected to back up both Kalil and Williams. Between newly resigned Trai Turner, young guard Andrew Norwell, the Kalil brothers and Daryl Williams, the offensive line group is set for the 2017 season.
Oher won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, was the subject of the hit movie “The Blind Side”, and has made over $35 million in contracts during his NFL career. He now faces the difficult task of recovering fully from his concussion
The Brain is a scary thing. You have to be careful with it.
— Michael Oher (@MichaelOher) July 20, 2017
