CHARLOTTE, NC (WCCB Charlotte) — Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said during his weekly press conference that cornerback Charles ‘Peanut’ Tillman was currently undergoing a MRI on his right knee.
The results revealed a torn ACL which will end Tillman’s season.
“He’s a real joy to have around and a great example for the young players in the room,” defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. “He’s wired like a Panther as I like to say. He’s a winner.”
Tillman, 34, had missed four weeks earlier this season with a knee injury. He returned and recorded an interception during week 15’s win over the Giants and played solid the last two weeks before Sunday’s injury which occurred in the third quarter.
It further depletes the secondary which saw Bene Benwikere fracture his leg in the week 14 win over Atlanta. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott expressed confidence in Robert McClain–the likely replacement for Tillman at corner.
McClain recorded an interception in Sunday’s 38-10 win over Tampa Bay.
“He was on his couch for a number of weeks, but he kept himself ready,” McDermott said. He knew the gameplan (yesterday) and executed the game-plan and got himself an interception and really probably sealed the game at that point. It’s rewarding to watch as a coach and a reason we do what we do.”
Carolina, the number one seed in the NFC, will have a bye this week and play the lowest remaining seed still alive on Sunday, January 17 at 1:05pm.
