The Carolina Panthers announced on Monday that defensive tackle Star Lotulelei suffered a "stress reaction" in his right foot and will be out for a few weeks.
"Star has a stress reaction in his foot," Panthers head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion said in a statement, according to ESPN. "We are going to be cautious. He is in a walking boot and we will reevaluate his foot in a few weeks."
#Panthers DT Star Lotulelei with walking boot on right foot. Said he didn't know if he would miss time. pic.twitter.com/E2zbtjc4A7
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) August 3, 2015
Lotulelei had previously fractured a bone in the same foot during practice in the lead-up to Carolina's playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. He had surgery on the foot and missed the game.
During his two-year career, Lotulelei has registered 67 tackles, five sacks, 46 run stops and 40 quarterback pressures. He's quickly become a high-level run-stuffing defensive tackle, making him a good fit next to Kawann Short, who has shown a nose for rushing the passer from the defensive interior with 66 pressures in two years. Short is dealing with an injury of his own, so the Panthers are currently without back tackle starters.
