Panthers defensive end Henry Anderson has missed Carolina’s last six games and on Wednesday revealed the chilling reason he hasn’t been able to play since October: he suffered a minor stroke.
The incident happened on October 22 and after it happened, the Panthers placed Anderson on the list of non-football-related illnesses, meaning the team didn’t have to disclose the specific reason. for which he was absent. As Anderson may have returned to the field this week against the Seahawks for the first time since Week 6, he opened up about the “minor blow” he suffered.
“It was a blood clot in the brain, that was the problem,” Anderson said Wednesday, via The Associated Press. “We solved it pretty quickly.”
According to Anderson, he was at home with his wife when his extremities began to go numb. At that time, his speech was also garbled and he knew something was wrong, so he immediately contacted Panthers medical staff.
“I didn’t know much about strokes, but I learned more about them and realized I was very lucky to avoid anything serious and long term,” said Anderson. “I’m glad I was a little oblivious when it happened because I would have been a little more freaked out had I realized what was going on.”
After six weeks on the NFI roster, Anderson has been tagged to return to the field and this team hopes he can play on Sunday. If Anderson is medically cleared, he plans to be there.
“I’m a football player,” Anderson told ESPN.com. “If I’m allowed to play, I want to be there and play football because that’s what I love to do. I’ve been injured many times in my career, and it’s always a bit crushing when you’re injured and not with the team, so if the doctors say I’m ready to go and I have clearance, I want to be out there with my guys and playing with my brothers.”
Anderson is very aware that this stroke could have been worse and he is grateful that it was not.
“I don’t know how to say it,” Anderson said. “After talking to everyone and realizing that I was avoiding anything major and really lucky, it eased my mind a bit.”
Anderson, who was a Colts third-round pick in 2015, is in his first season with the Panthers. He signed with Carolina after spending one season with the Patriots in 2021. Prior to that, he spent three seasons with the Colts (2015-17) and Jets (2018-20).