Charles Tillman Injury: Updates on Panthers CB's Concussion and Return

Over the past two years, injuries have limited Charles Tillman to just 10 games, and Tillman suffered a concussion during the Carolina Panthers' preseason matchup with the New England Patriots on Aug. 28. However, he was ruled active for the regular-season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Tillman returned to practice last Monday after missing the Sept. 3 preseason finale, according to ESPN's David Newton. Tillman cleared the league's concussion protocol, according to Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, via Max Henson of the Carolina Panthers official site.

“I basically told you guys what he told me,” Rivera said on Aug. 30, per Joseph Person and Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. “I felt kind of bad about having told you guys that when (trainers) said to me he did have a concussion and we did put him in the protocol.”

Rivera said on Aug. 28 that the cornerback "had the wind knocked out of him," despite the Panthers initially announcing Tillman had suffered a head injury and would be unable to return to the game. According to Jones, the 34-year-old was vomiting on the sidelines after being removed.

"While leaving the practice field Sunday, Tillman said he felt good but declined to answer any questions about his concussion or how it happened," according to Person and Jones.

Before his premature departure, Tillman grabbed one of the more impressive interceptions you'll see all year. He snatched the ball right out of Aaron Dobson's hands in the first quarter to force the turnover, via the NFL:

The Panthers are undoubtedly counting on Tillman to help anchor their secondary. Before 2014, he had recorded at least three interceptions in each of the previous four seasons.

Should Tillman be forced to miss any action this season, Carolina will likely look to either Bene Benwikere or Teddy Williams to help fill the void.