Panthers LB Shaq Thompson has a season-ending injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson suffered a season-ending injury for the second straight year.

Thompson is reported to have torn his Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Bank of America Stadium. He will undergo an MRI on Monday to check.

The 25th pick of the 2015 draft out of the University of Washington suffered a season-ending broken fibula during a Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints last year.

Thompson indicated on his Instagram Story that he has no plans to retire despite his season ending early due to injury for the second straight year. Thompson wrote: “You think I’m retiring!! Ahah, yes, right! I’ll be back!”

Thompson was able to leave the field under his own power on Sunday, but was later carried to the locker room with a towel over his head and his head bowed.

Thompson, 30, is in his 10th season. He and long snapper JJ Jansen are the only remaining players from the 2015 team, which went an NFL-best 15-1 in the regular season and made it to the Super Bowl.

However, he has had a long stretch since then with just one winning season. The Panthers appear headed for their seventh straight losing season as the team heads into Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears at 1-3.

Thompson had one of his best seasons, leading the team with 35 tackles. Rookie Trevin Wallace is the most likely candidate to replace him.

Thompson was one of four players voted team captain by the players for the season. The others were defensive lineman Derrick Brown, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opening game, quarterback Bryce Young on the bench and safety Sam Franklin Jr., who began the season on injured reserve with a broken foot.

The NFL Network first reported the news.