Carolina Panthers: Tight end Greg Olsen added to injury report

The Carolina Panthers had a late addition to the team’s injury report with Greg Olsen now listed as questionable.

The Carolina Panthers announced on Saturday that tight end Greg Olsen had been added to the injury report for a back injury. He was listed as questionable on the report.

While Olsen did practice all week, it does raise a little bit of concern that the Panthers’ tight end was added to the report this close to the game on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

The former Pro Bowl tight end is coming off a season where he played only seven games after suffering a broken foot in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. These were the first games he missed while with the Panthers and the first time since his rookie season in 2007. He finished the year with 17 receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown.

However, this year Olsen looked healthy throughout training camp and preseason. He was expected to be a key piece in the passing attack for this Panthers’ offense. In the third preseason game against the New England Patriots, he finished the game with four receptions for 44 yards.

While it is concerning to see Olsen on the injury report, he was listed as questionable so it doesn’t seem likely he will miss the opening game of the 2018 season. He joins fellow tight end Chris Manhertz on the injury report, who is also questionable for this weekend’s game against the Cowboys.

If Olsen is forced to miss this game, the Panthers will likely turn to fourth-round draft pick Ian Thomas to replace him. The rookie looked good this preseason and finished with three receptions for 37 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.

The Carolina Panthers face off against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium at 4:25 PM. The game will be televised on FOX.