Jon Beason Injury: Update on Panthers Star's Ankle Injury

When you give a guy a big, expensive contract, the last thing you want is to have that player go down with an injury, especially in Week 1. 

Right now, the Panthers are going through that hell as Jon Beason was carted off of the field with an ankle injury. Naturally, when you hit the cart, that is never a good sign, and that has to be in the forefront of everyone's mind.

Fantasy Impact

If you have the Panthers' defense, this is a crushing blow. Beason is one of the team's top linebackers, and losing him will be a tough pill to swallow. Carolina already had a questionable defense, and losing a playmaker and leader won't make things any easier.

Who's the Backup?

Coming in to replace Beason is Dan Connor, who was a standout linebacker during his college days at Penn State, but has failed to duplicate his success at the pro level. Connor has talent, but he won't make up for the leadership and playmaking ability Beason brought to the table.

Devastation Scale

Beason was just named one of the team's captains for the season, so obviously, if he's gone for an extended period of time, it's a major blow to the Carolina defense, and someone is going to have to step up. On a scale of 1-10, this is easily a nine.

Timeline for Return

According to the Panthers, Beason will not return to the game, and that is an awful sign. Throw in the fact that he was carted off, and you have to worry about the linebacker missing extended time with this injury.

What They're Saying

Obviously, with the circumstances around the injury, and the fact that he won't return, it has people fearing the worst, and some are already writing him off for next week's game. Needless to say, the coming days will be telling, and the Panthers might have to scramble to find a valid replacement on the depth chart.