Marquis Haynes Sr. Fantasy Stats

The Carolina Panthers placed linebacker Marquis Haynes (back) on Injured Reserve on Monday due to a back injury that will keep him out for at least the first four games of the regular season. With Haynes starting the year on the sidelines, it should mean that Yetur Gross-Matos will see more defensive snaps on the outside. The 29-year-old was originally a fourth-round pick by the Panthers in 2018 out of Mississippi. He had a career-high 29 tackles (20 solo), a career-high five sacks, seven tackles for loss, 13 QB hits, four passes defensed and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 17 games (one start) in 2022 in his fifth year with the organization.

ESPN.com's David Newton writes that nobody stood out more this offseason in the Carolina Panthers' quest to find an edge rusher opposite Brian Burns than sixth-year outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr. He was constantly in the face of rookie quarterback Bryce Young, who said Haynes has "been great." The Panthers are still expected to add a veteran edge rusher before the regular season, but what Haynes has shown coming off a career-high five-sack season in 2022 has to make new head coach Frank Reich more comfortable. The 29-year-old former fourth-round selection out of Mississippi in 2018 also had a career-high 29 tackles (20 solo), seven tackles for loss, 13 QB hits, four passes defensed and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 17 games (one start) last year in his fifth NFL season.