Panthers place LB Shaq Thompson on IR, rule out TE Ian Thomas, CB Dane Jackson

The Carolina Panthers on Saturday downgraded tight end Ian Thomas and cornerback Dane Jackson to out for Sunday's game against the host Chicago Bears, and as expected placed linebacker Shaq Thompson on injured reserve.

Thompson, 30, sustained a season-ending torn Achilles in the loss last Sunday to the Cincinnati Bengals and had surgery.

He recorded five tackles in that game to boost his total to 35 in four games (all starts) this season.

Thompson has totaled 752 tackles, 12 sacks, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and three interceptions in 123 career games (112 starts). He was selected by the Panthers with the 25th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Washington.

Both Jackson (hamstring) and Thomas (calf) were listed as questionable for Sunday against the Bears (2-2) after they returned to practice this week from injured reserve. They have begun a 21-day window to be activated to the 53-man roster or spend the rest of the season on IR.

Jackson, 27, signed with Carolina as a free agent in March. The Panthers on Aug. 27 placed him on injured, designated to return.

A seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 draft out of Pittsburgh, Jackson had 152 tackles, three interceptions, 28 passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 52 games (28 starts) over four seasons.

Thomas, 28, went on injured reserve on Sept. 7. Carolina selected him in the fourth round in 2018 out of Indiana. Thomas has 116 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns in 94 games (52 starts) through the 2023 campaign.

Also Saturday, the Panthers (1-3) activated outside linebacker Thomas Incoom and defensive lineman T.J. Smith from the practice squad for a game-day elevation.

--Field Level Media