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The Carolina Panthers are expected to place tight end Hayden Hurst on season-ending injured reserve due to a concussion suffered on Nov. 9 against the Chicago Bears, according to Joseph Person of The Athletic.
Hurst’s father, Jerry Hurst, divulged on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Dec. 6 that his son was diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia as a result of the concussion:
Jerry Hurst @jhurst10
@haydenrhurst has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Amnesia by an independent neurologist as a result of the hit he took in Chicago November 9. Slow recovery, don’t know when he’ll be back. Prayers appreciated!
Hayden Hurst noted in a tweet that he did not remember the four hours after the game in which he got concussed, but stressed that his injury would not be career-ending in nature:
Hayden Hurst @haydenrhurst
While it was scary, it is NOT career ending. I’m starting my return to play this week, so fingers crossed I make it back for the last few weeks!
God Bless & Keep Pounding !!!!
Hurst said that he hoped to return and play the final few weeks of the 2023 season, but the Panthers are reportedly taking a cautious approach.
Hurst, 30, signed a three-year, $21.75 million contract with the Panthers during the offseason after spending the previous campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals.
In nine games before suffering a concussion, Hurst had 18 receptions for 184 yards and one touchdown this season.
Hurst was originally the No. 25 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft out of South Carolina, and he has played for four different teams during his six-year NFL career.
After primarily being a backup during his first two NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Hurst was traded to the Atlanta Falcons, and he enjoyed his best season in 2020 with a career-high 56 receptions for 571 yards and six touchdowns.
Hurst was relegated to a backup role again the following season after the Falcons used a first-round draft pick on tight end Kyle Pitts, which led to him signing a one-year deal with the Bengals in free agency.
As a complementary option in the passing game behind wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, Hurst was a solid safety valve for quarterback Joe Burrow, recording 52 catches for 414 yards and two scores.
Hurst was also a major factor during the Bengals’ run to the AFC Championship Game in last season’s playoffs, making 13 receptions for 141 yards and one touchdown.
With Hurst on the shelf, 2021 third-round pick Tommy Tremble has been the Panthers’ starting tight end lately, but he has just 14 catches for 86 yards and three touchdowns on the year.
Carolina’s offense has struggled as a whole this season with rookie No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young finding it difficult to acclimate to life as an NFL quarterback, especially during a season in which head coach Frank Reich was fired.
At 1-12, the Panthers have the worst record in the NFL this season, and since their playoff hopes are long over, there was little incentive to rush Hurst back onto the field.
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