CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers inside linebacker Shaq Thompson was carted off the field after sustaining a right shin injury against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.

His return was listed as doubtful.

Thompson was injured late in the first quarter when Saints offensive lineman Trevor Penning and Panthers defensive lineman DeShawn Williams were engaged in a block and rolled up on the back of Thompson’s right leg as he was trying to make a tackle.

Thompson, in his ninth season with the Panthers, is one of the team's emotional leaders. Before he was helped onto the cart, the entire Panthers bench ran on the field to wish Thompson well.

The second-longest tenured player on Carolina's roster, Thompson had a career-high 135 tackles last season. He became only the fifth player in franchise history to amass at least 100 tackles in four consecutive seasons.

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