Ron Edwards injury: Panthers place defensive tackle on injured reserve

The Carolina Panthers announced today that Ron Edwards would be placed on season-ending injured reserve, following a dislocated elbow he sustained in last night's win over the the Philadelphia Eagles.

For the second time in as many years, the Panthers' nose tackle is headed to IR -- and with a new GM on the horizon, one wonders how many more games we'll see Edwards in Carolina. Make no mistake, big Ron has been fantastic in the middle. His presence (along with Dwan Edwards) is a huge reason why Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy have had success off the edge, but given his age and injury situation, it's wholly possible the Panthers will explore other options.

Last night Sione Fua was his replacement, and for the most part was serviceable. These remaining games will be a critical stretch for the second-year defensive tackle, as he will be playing for a job, and a future inside the organization. A forced fumble last night was a good start, but he'll need to prove a lot more in order to justify a roster spot long term.