CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson suffered a season-ending injury for the second straight year.

Thompson tore his Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Bank of America Stadium.

The 25th pick of the 2015 draft out of the University of Washington suffered a season-ending broken fibula during a Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints last year.

Thompson stated on his Instagram Story that he has no plans to retire. Thompson wrote: “You think I’m retiring!! Ahah, yes, right! I’ll be back!”

The Panthers will also be without linebacker Josey Jewell, who plays alongside Thompson in the 3-4 system, for at least a few weeks after he suffered a hamstring/groin injury in the fourth quarter.

But Thompson’s injury hit him the hardest due to the severity of the injury and the importance he has long meant to the team.

“Just sick for Shaq,” coach Dave Canales said. “A guy who really cares about me a lot, plays with so much passion, a vocal leader, someone who’s had my back through this process.” (He’s one of those) people I can ask for a line to take on this cause that we want to get more of.

“So a guy who stood for all of those things, Panthers football through and through.”

Thompson was able to leave the field under his own power on Sunday, but was later carried to the locker room with a towel over his head and his head bowed.

Thompson, 30, is in his 10th season. He and long snapper JJ Jansen are the only remaining players from the 2015 team, which went an NFL-best 15-1 in the regular season and made it to the Super Bowl.

However, he has had a long stretch since then with just one winning season. The Panthers appear headed for their seventh straight losing season as the team heads into Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears at 1-3.

Thompson had one of his best seasons, leading the team with 35 tackles. Canales said rookie Trevin Wallace and third-year Chandler Wooten will be the first to replace Thompson and Jewell.

Thompson was one of four players voted team captain by the players for the season. The others were defensive lineman Derrick Brown, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opening game, quarterback Bryce Young on the bench and safety Sam Franklin Jr., who began the season on injured reserve with a broken foot.

It is not immediately known whether the artificial turf at Bank of America Stadium had an impact on Thompson’s injury. But it was a non-contact injury, and no player was a bigger proponent of owner David Tepper returning to natural grass.

Thompson was particularly vocal in his support for the change in 2022 after the turf was replaced with turf for an exhibition football game.

“We’re probably all going to have to stop training until we get weed,” Thompson said at the time. “I mean, they make enough money from us to take care of the lawn. I hate to say this, but under our last owner (Jerry Richardson) we had grass. … Listen to your players. We want to play on grass.”

Canales declined to speculate whether Thompson’s injury was turf-related.

“I’m not an expert on turf, so I’ll have to give it to them,” he said.