CHARLOTTE — The Panthers on Wednesday placed running back Christian McCaffrey on the reserve/injured list and moved offensive lineman Chris Reed off the COVID-19 list to the active roster.
McCaffrey's high ankle sprain was expected to keep him out for multiple games, and now he will be sidelined for at least three. In 2020, teams may have a player return from injured reserve after spending only three games on the list. That would make McCaffrey eligible to return, at the earliest, for the Panthers' Oct. 18 matchup against the Bears at Bank of America Stadium.
Though McCaffrey was told the injury would force him to miss four to six weeks, he'd like to be back sooner. Through two games, he's recorded four touchdowns and 223 yards from scrimmage.
Mike Davis will start in McCaffrey's place when the Panthers travel to Los Angeles to play the Chargers in Week 3.
Reed has spent the last three weeks on the COVID-19 reserve list. He provides depth for the offensive line, which was without starting left guard Dennis Daley for the first two games of the season.