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The Carolina Panthers pulled out a 16-8 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, but it had come at a cost with star tight end Greg Olsen refracturing his foot that he had undergone surgery to repair last season.
Despite that, Olsen voiced on Twitter on Tuesday morning that he plans on pushing his way to get back on the field at some point later in the 2018 campaign, via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.
“Unfortunately, during Sunday’s game vs. Dallas I fractured the same foot that required surgery during the 2017 season. Since returning to action last season and throughout the 2018 preseason, my foot responded incredibly well to the surgery, and I had no limitations as I prepared for this season. I had very high expectations for this season as I felt I had one of my best training camps of my career.
“To say I am disappointed in this development would be an understatement. I believe my greatest career achievement has been my ability to play every game for over a decade. Unfortunately, the last two seasons have not continued that trend.
“With that being said, we are optimistic this is not how my 2018 season will end. After consulting with our medical team, we have determined our best course of action is to press forward with my rehab in hopes of playing again this season. We will re-examine our options this offseason in regards to my foot and our path forward. I look forward to rejoining my teammates on the field as early as possible.”
It is a significant blow the Panthers offense as Olsen has emerged as one of the league's most productive tight ends over the last several seasons. Prior to the 2017 campaign, he had become the first tight end in league history to notch more than 1,000 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons. This had seen him record more than 60 catches in five straight years.
Olsen is now headed to yet the same path of recovery from last year as he missed nine games in the 2017 season due to the injury that he was suffered in the third game of the year. He was able to make a return late in the regular season where he was able to work his way back into form stringing together a strong performance in the wild-card matchup against the New Orleans Saints where he made eight catches on 12 targets for 107 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Given his previous history with the ailment, this should provide him a more precise route to recovery that may be able to get him back on the field in the second half of the season.
