Cherelus Sidelined, Alcorn State's NFL Week Takes a Hit
The biggest Alcorn State story in the NFL this week wasn't made on the field — it was made in a trainer's room. Carolina Panthers linebacker Claudin Cherelus has been placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury suffered in Week 2, meaning the Braves product will miss at least four games before he's eligible to return.
Cherelus had carved out a roster spot in Carolina's linebacking corps, making his absence a genuine blow to a Panthers defense already navigating a turbulent early stretch. The move to IR signals the injury is serious enough that Carolina wasn't comfortable keeping him on a short-term designation. To compensate on the depth chart, the Panthers elevated wide receiver Chris Moore in a corresponding roster move. There's no firm timetable beyond the mandatory four-game minimum, and Panthers fans will be watching the injury report closely for any updates.
Chris Blair Sees Scattered Action in Atlanta
On the other side of the ledger, Falcons wide receiver and fellow Alcorn State alum Chris Blair saw the field in both of Atlanta's games this week, though his production was limited. In Atlanta's Week 3 matchup against Carolina on Sunday, September 20 — the same game that likely ended Cherelus's near-term season — Blair hauled in one reception for six yards in a 34-3 Falcons victory. He was also active Thursday, September 24, when Atlanta rolled past Green Bay 35-14, though he didn't register a stat line in that contest.
Blair's role remains firmly in reserve territory, but his continued presence on the active roster for back-to-back games is a sign the Falcons value his depth at the position. For Alcorn State fans, simply seeing a Brave in uniform on an NFL field twice in one week is a reason to keep tabs on the depth chart.
The Bigger Picture
It was a bittersweet stretch for Alcorn State's NFL contingent. The school's most prominent defensive story ended with a trip to injured reserve, while its offensive presence in Atlanta is quietly holding on at the margins of a roster. The rest of the active Braves alumni — KhaDarel Hodge in San Francisco, Jarveon Howard in Green Bay, Robert McDaniel in Tampa Bay, and Damien Wilson in Dallas — didn't surface in the research window this week, but the sheer depth of Alcorn State representation across six NFL rosters remains a testament to what the SWAC program continues to produce.
For now, all eyes are on Cherelus's recovery. If the Panthers can keep their season from spiraling, they'll want their linebacker healthy and back on the field before the calendar turns.
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