Matt Paradis‘ season is over. The Panthers center has been diagnosed with a torn ACL, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).
This was the expected outcome after Paradis had to be carted off the field on Sunday. The Panthers turned to Sam Tecklenburg after the seventh-year pro was forced out and they went on to lose 24-6. For now, Tecklenburg projects to start in Week 10 against the Cardinals.
The Panthers’ offensive line has been ravaged by injuries this year. While guards Pat Elflein and John Miller work their way back to the field, they’ll have to go the rest of the way without Paradis in the middle.
Following a five-year stint with the Broncos, Paradis joined the Panthers on a three-year, $27 million contract in 2019. He started in all 32 of games between 2019 and 2020, appearing in 100 percent of Carolina's offensive snaps in 2020.
The center reworked his deal back in February, but he still remains on course for free agency in the spring.
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