Julius Peppers Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

Panthers veteran defensive end Julius Peppers underwent surgery on his right shoulder, the player posted to his Instagram account and the team later confirmed. The procedure was a repair of his labrum, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer hears from a source (Twitter link). Julius Peppers (vertical)

In his Instagram story, Peppers says, “Thanks everyone for the calls, texts and wishes. Everything went smooth and I’m recovering well.” He was seen at times wearing a brace on the same shoulder during the 2017 season. It is not clear at this time if the surgery has any implications on his status for the 2018 season. Set to be a free agent, Peppers has said he intends to take time before deciding on his future plans.

The injury did not slow him down in 2017. At the age of 37, he played in all 16 games and registered a team-high 11 sacks while helping Carolina earn a return to the postseason. His standout season helped him move to fourth place on the all-time sack list with 154.5. Only Bruce Smith (200), Reggie White (198) and Kevin Greene (160) have tallied more.

Though he turned 38 in January, Peppers obviously can still contribute at the NFL level and is sure to draw interest from potential playoff teams in 2018.

 

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