The Panthers place Brady Christensen on injured reserve

CHARLOTTE – The Panthers only had to use two offensive linemen in 17 games last season, but they will do so within two weeks this year.

Left guard Brady Christensen will miss at least the next four weeks after being placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.

Christensen played all of the opening snaps, but suffered a biceps injury late in the opener in Atlanta.

Movements create a place on the list but also a question.

Rookie Chandler Zavala started at right guard last week but spent most of his college career at left guard at NC State (including time next to current teammate Ekem Ekono).

So moving him seems like a no-brainer, but they have options, including Cade Mays, Calvin Throckmorton, and Nash Jensen, while they wait for Austin Corbett to return from the physically unable to perform list.

Also on Wednesday, the Panthers placed cornerback Stantley Thomas Oliver on the practice squad injured reserve (hamstring), released running back Spencer Brown to the practice squad, and signed wide receiver Michael Strachan and running back Tarik Cohen to the practice squad.

Cohen has not played in the league the past two years due to injuries, but he made a Pro Bowl and earned All-Pro honors as a return specialist during his time with the Bears.

The Boone, North Carolina, native played at North Carolina A&T and was a fourth-round pick in 2017.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Strachan was a 2021 seventh-round pick of the Colts out of Division II Charleston (WV). He ran a 4.54-second 40 at the combine that year, an interesting combination of size and speed. He caught five passes for 85 yards in parts of two seasons with the Colts while working under now Panthers coach Frank Reich.