The Panthers are probably going to have to get by without their top safety for the time being. Kurt Coleman is set to miss time after spraining an MCL in Sunday’s victory over the Patriots, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The team confirmed the injury Monday and said the eighth-year veteran could be out as long as a month, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer tweets. The Panthers will face the Lions on Sunday in a matchup of 3-1 teams before a Thursday-night game against the Eagles. Coleman will almost certainly miss both of those games, regardless of his recovery speed.
Carolina is suddenly hurting for depth on its defensive back line. The team signed 36-year-old Mike Adams to play alongside Coleman but doesn’t have much starting experience behind its top duo. Longtime special-teamer Colin Jones replaced Coleman on Sunday. Rookie UDFA Demetrious Cox is the only other safety on the roster. Jones did start six games for the Panthers from 2014-16, however.
Last year, Coleman signed an extension with the Panthers that runs through the 2019 season. He hasn’t missed more than a game in a season since joining the team in 2015, playing in 15 regular-season contests in each of the past two years.