Panthers release Michael Oher due to concussion issues

After dealing with concussions for much of 2016, the Carolina Panthers have released offensive tackle Michael Oher after two years with the team.

While it was a great day for one offensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers (that’d be guard Trai Turner), it wasn’t that for tackle Michael Oher. Turner claims to have signed a four-year extension with the club. It seems that Oher’s two-year tenure with the Panthers has come to an end.

According to Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network, “Panthers announced their cut [of] Michael Oher with a failed physical designation. [He] has dealt with after-effects of [a] concussion.” Oher was a former first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens out of the University of Mississippi in 2009. He is best known for the inspiration of The Blind Side.

While never a Pro Bowler, Oher was solid at either tackle spot for most of his eight-year NFL career. His best stretch came with the Ravens from 2009 to 2013 where he was part of the Super Bowl winning team in 2012.

Oher had started 110 games on the outside for the Ravens, Panthers and the 2014 Tennessee Titans. Though he never missed a start for the Ravens in five seasons, Oher missed five games in 2014 with Tennessee. He played in only three games for the 2016 Panthers.

Carolina may have opened up the check book to Turner on Thursday, but the team still has plenty of work to do up front on its offensive line. Hearing that Oher is dealing with lingering concussion effects is troubling, but best of luck for him going forward.

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As for Carolina, the Panthers have to be able to run the football next year to contend in a tough NFC South. Carolina went a miserable 6-10 after reaching Super Bowl 50 in 2015. The Panthers’ offense is predicated on pounding the rock. That starts with solid play up front. Replacing Oher won’t be easy.