Carolina Panthers Place 3-Time Pro Bowler on Injured Reserve

The Carolina Panthers will be without one of the league's premier special teams weapons for at least the next four weeks of the season. ESPN NFL Nation reporter David Newton revealed the team has placed kick returner Andre Roberts on injured reserve:

The Panthers placed return specialist Andre Roberts on IR with a knee injury.
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) September 13, 2022

Roberts suffered a PCL sprain in a disappointing Week 1 loss against the Cleveland Browns. His absence is a frustrating one, as the Panthers offense needs all the field position help it can get after finishing 29th in scoring and 30th in yards in 2021. Fellow wide receiver Shi Smith will be expected to take over return duties. Smith has one return for 24 yards since being drafted by the Panthers 204th overall in 2021.

Roberts joined the Panthers this offseason after splitting time between the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers last year. After a productive first five seasons in the league where he caught 218 passes for 2576 yards and 13 touchdowns as a wide receiver, Roberts evolved into one of the NFL's best kick return specialists in the second half of his career. Over the past four years, he has notched one first-team All-Pro, two second-team All-Pros, and three Pro Bowls while leading the league in kick return yardage twice and yards per return once. His three kick return touchdowns are the second-most in the league among active players.