NFL Official Carl Paganelli Carted Off with Injury After Collision in Bucs-Panthers

During Sunday's game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, official Carl Paganelli was carted off the field after suffering an injury.

The Fox broadcast noted that Paganelli "seemed to be doing OK":

Nick Carboni of WCNC reported that Paganelli appeared to injure his leg when a Bucs player inadvertently ran into him before a punt.

Per Nick Geddes of On3.com, Paganelli made contact with Tampa Bay linebacker Vi Jones as the team's punt unit ran onto the field. The officiating crew is now down to six members, with back judge Grantis Bell assuming some of Paganelli's umpire duties.

Paganelli has been an NFL official since the 1999 season. His two brothers, Dino Paganelli and Perry Paganelli, work in the NFL as back judges. He worked as the umpire for Super Bowl XXXIX and Super Bowl XLI in 2004 and 2006, the latter of which he worked alongside Perry to make them the first set of brothers to work a Super Bowl together. The 64-year-old later officiated Super Bowl XLVI and Super Bowl XLVIII in 2011 and 2013, making him the only official to work four Super Bowls since 2000.

This is the first meeting of the season between the Panthers and Buccaneers. With a win, Tampa Bay (5-6) could tie with the Atlanta Falcons (6-6) for first place in the NFC South. Carolina (3-8) sits in last place in the division. The Panthers and Bucs will meet again in Week 17 on Dec. 29.