Cherelus (calf/ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's matchup against the Buccaneers.
The 26-year-old from Alcorn State sustained ankle and calf injuries during the Week 17 loss to the Seahawks and didn't practice throughout the week, so it's no surprise that he'll be sidelined Saturday. Cherelus had been filling in for the injured Trevin Wallace (IR, shoulder) in Carolina's linebacker corps, recording 32 total tackles and one pass defensed over 14 appearances this season. While Cherelus is out in Week 18, expect Bam Martin-Scott to start alongside Christian Rozeboom.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Still not practicing
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Cherelus (calf/ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's walthrough.
Cherelus still has a walking boot on his left foot Wednesday, per Joe Person of The Athletic. Though he'll have one more chance to take the practice field Thursday, he seems an unlikely candidate to be cleared in time for Sunday's road matchup against the Buccaneers. Bam Martin-Scott will handle an expanded role on defense Week 18 if Cherelus is unable to play.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: DNP in walk-through
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Cherelus (calf) did not participate in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Kaye observed that Cherelus was present in the facility for Tuesday's session but was only seen watching in a walking boot. The linebacker's presence around preparations for Saturday's divisional game with the Buccaneers should be a positive sign for his availability, but he will need to get on the field in one of the next two practices if he hopes to dodge an injury designation and suit up for Week 18.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Questionable to return Sunday
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Cherelus is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Seahawks due to a calf injury, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Cherelus appeared to sustain the injury late in the second quarter, and he's being evaluated by medical staff to determine whether he can return to Sunday's game. Bam Martin-Scott will see more snaps on defense for as long as Cherelus is out of the game.
Cherelus (concussion) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Saints.
Cherelus suffered a concussion in Week 12 against the 49ers that caused him to miss Week 13. The 26-year-old opened the week as a limited participant after having a chance to rest over the Panthers' bye week. The third-year pro was on track to return after two straight full practices and has now officially cleared the NFL's concussion protocol. Cherelus will continue to handle rotational duties at interior linebacker in his return.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Won't play Wednesday
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Cherelus (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Rams, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
The Alcorn State product sustained a concussion in the Week 12 loss to the 49ers and was not able to clear protocol in time to play Sunday. While Cherelus is sidelined in Week 13, expect Trevin Wallace and Krys Barnes to operate as the Panthers' top inside linebackers.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Impresses in starting role
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Cherelus tallied 10 total tackles (two solo) and one pass defended in Sunday's 30-27 overtime win over the Falcons.
With Trevin Wallace (shoulder) sidelined for the Week 11 win, Cherelus started in the Panthers' linebacker corps and made the most of his opportunity. He tied Christian Rozeboom for the second-most tackles on Carolina's defense, trailing Tre'von Moehrig's 11-stop performance. Wallace is currently labeled as week-to-week, so there's a chance Cherelus remains one of the Panthers' starting inside linebackers in the Week 12 matchup against the 49ers.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Takes field Thursday
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Cherelus suited up for Carolina's 19-10 preseason loss to the Steelers on Thursday, Kassidy Hill and Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site report.
Cherelus played 17 defensive snaps during Thursday's preseason finale, so it looks like he's fully recovered from the groin injury that forced him to sit out Carolina's prior exhibition matchup against Houston. He's expected to contribute on special teams while handling a depth role on defense this season.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Unlikely to play vs. Houston
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Cherelus (groin) is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Cherelus missed the Panthers' preseason opener against the Browns due to a groin injury, and the issue will keep him out of Saturday's contest as well. The third-year inside linebacker is competing for a depth spot on the 53-man roster, and if he doesn't play Saturday, he'll work on being available for Carolina's preseason finale against Pittsburgh on Thursday. Cherelus played in 13 regular-season games for the Panthers in 2024 and logged 28 tackles (13 solo) while splitting his snaps between defense and special teams.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Dealing with groin issue
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Cherelus left Wednesday's training camp practice with a groin injury, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Cherelus had been participating fully in training camp after spending the last three weeks of last season on injured reserve with a toe injury, but he seems to have suffered another bad stroke of injury luck. As long as Cherelus is sidelined, Jacoby Windmon projects to see increased reps at linebacker.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Placed on injured reserve
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The Panthers placed Cherelus (toe) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Chereles got the Week 15 start in place of an injured Trevin Wallace (shoulder) and played a season-high 73 percent of the Panthers' defensive snaps versus Dallas. However, his season is now done, and he finishes 2024 with 28 tackles (13 solo) and one QB hit across 158 defensive snaps and another 204 on special teams. Cam Gill appears to be the next man up at linebacker for Carolina after he played 19 defensive snaps to Jon Rhattigan's one against the Cowboys.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Will start Sunday
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Cherelus will start Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official website reports.
With Trevin Wallace (shoulder) inactive and Shaq Thompson (Achilles) out for the season, Cherelus will start next to Josey Jewell at inside linebacker. Cherelus has played double-digit snaps only twice this season, totaling eight tackles (four solo) in 91 defensive snaps across those two games.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Ruled out for Week 7
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Cherelus (hamstring) did not practice Friday and is ruled out for Sunday's game against Washington.
Cherelus hasn't practiced in any capacity since being forced out of Carolina's loss to the Falcons in Week 6. With starter Josey Jewell (hamstring) and depth man Jon Rhattigan (knee) also both ruled out for Sunday's contest, the Panthers' interior-linebacker corps will be severely depleted versus the Commanders.
Cherelus suffered a hamstring injury during the Panthers' 38-20 loss to the Falcons on Sunday, Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official site reports.
The linebacker made five tackles (three solo) before leaving the game. Cherelus was deemed doubtful to return in the fourth quarter. The backup was playing Sunday because starter Josey Jewell was inactive due to a hamstring injury.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Participating in OTAs
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Cherelus (knee) was on the field for OTAs on Monday, Joseph Person of The Athletic reports.
Cherelus was placed on IR on Nov. 3 due to a knee injury, causing him to miss the Panthers' last 10 regular-season games. He played in six games for Carolina in 2023, and he did not record a tackle across 105 snaps on special teams.
