This afternoon Joseph Person confirmed the reports we heard for the last 20 hrs

Joe Person
Breaking: As expected, Jon Beason has a torn Achilles, out for the year. Will have surgery in the next couple of days. Tough break.

It's easy to look at this injury as being related to Beason being 'rushed back', but after speaking to some people who understand these types of injuries the overwhelming sentiment was that if it was going to tear it was going to happen sooner or later. I was led to believe that once it gets to a certain point it will need to be surgically repaired, tear on the field or not. 

Now the spotlight is firmly placed on Dan Connor, a player who quietly led the Panthers in tackles on Sunday. During the off-season we talked about wanting Connor to have an opportunity to start, now it appears he'll get that shot for the Carolina Panthers. I've never been so thankful for depth at middle linebacker.

Make no mistake though, there is no substitution for Jon Beason. The leadership he brings to the field is unmatched and now we wait to see whether Thomas Davis or Charles Godfrey will embrace the 'C' on their jerseys and lift a defense who will be reeling from the loss of Beason.