Kelvin Benjamin Injury Update: Panthers WR Tore ACL, Will Miss 2015 Season

The 2015 NFL season hasn’t yet started, but the Carolina Panthers have already suffered a major loss.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported Wednesday afternoon that star wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL during practice earlier that day, which the team later confirmed on its website. The second-year receiver will miss the season, and he left his fans a message on his Facebook page in the aftermath of the injury: “Sorry to inform I will be missing this season due to ACL tear. I will keep pounding and be the biggest fan this year. Bro @cameron1newton.”

Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk wrote that Benjamin “made a cut on a pass route and crumpled to the ground without anyone touching him, immediately grabbing his knee.”

Steve Reed of the Associated Press provided an image of Benjamin being carted off the field:   

"

Kelvin Benjamin being carted off the field. Appeared to injure his left leg. pic.twitter.com/kQ5CYWGqIh

— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) August 19, 2015"

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reiterated what every Carolina fan is probably thinking following this devastating setback:

Benjamin established himself during his rookie campaign in 2014 as Cam Newton’s go-to receiver, recording 73 catches for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns. He was third among all rookie pass-catchers in receiving yards (behind only Odell Beckham Jr. and Mike Evans) and was a major reason why the Panthers won the NFC South.

The problem for Carolina outside of the actual injury and lost production is the relative lack of depth at the receiver position, as Albert Breer of NFL Network and Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated pointed out:

The Panthers at least have tight end Greg Olsen as a steady target. He tallied a career-high 1,008 receiving yards a season ago and is a veteran leader who will help the offense fight through the loss of Benjamin.

Elsewhere, youngster Corey "Philly" Brown brings impressive speed to the table and showed flashes of his potential in 2014, but he is far from a proven commodity. To make matters worse, rookie Devin Funchess tweaked his hamstring Wednesday and will have to recover from that before he makes his impact felt.

Between Olsen and the potential of few young receivers, the Panthers still have some intriguing pieces in the passing game. Still, nobody can replicate Benjamin’s combination of speed, height (6’5”) and ability as a red-zone threat.

Carolina won the division last year, but that said more about the NFC South than the team's overall talent level, since it finished below .500 at 7-8-1. The Panthers may have to hope the rest of the division loses plenty of games again this year with their star receiver out for the season.