Panthers place linebacker/special teamer Luiji Vilain on injured reserve

The Panthers added another linebacker to injured reserve. This time it was Luiji Vilain, who’d been on the practice squad since late last month.

Vilain, who is primarily a special teamer. injured his knee last Sunday in a loss to the Colts. He’ll be out at least four games with an IR distinction. The Panthers made the move late Tuesday, hours after they placed linebacker Chandler Wooten on injured reserve after he sprained his ankle in a loss to Indy.

The Panthers already had signed Blake Martinez, a linebacker who left the NFL a year ago to sell Pokeman collectibles, to the practice squad to help with depth at linebacker.

Getting back to Vilain, he spent the majority of his NFL career with the Vikings. He got to the NFL by way of Wake Forest with a side trip to Michigan. And, the Canadian was drafted in the CFL, but not the NFL. The Panthers signed him off the Vikings practice squad, Oct. 24. Last Sunday, before he was injured, Vilian saw action on four special teams snaps.

The Panthers also made a major injury announcement, Tuesday. Coach Frank Reich said that star rusher Brian Burns is in concussion protocol and won’t play Thursday night against the Bears. It’s a short week for Carolina, so it’s an inopportune time for injuries.

Plus, injuries are zapping the Panthers depth chart. Other Carolina linebackers who are on IR include Yetur Gross-Matos, Justin Houston, Shaq Thompson, and Claudin Cherelus.