Panthers TE Greg Olsen (back) says he plans to play Week 2.

Related players: Ian Thomas

Olsen told Reed his back got "jacked up" in the game against the Rams. Olsen added the short week, Thursday night game against the Bucs is "not idea" for his injury. Looks like Olsen will play but perhaps Thomas gets a few more snaps than usual.

The Carolina Panthers' treacherous trek to a potential postseason berth will have to be made without Greg Olsen on the field.

The veteran tight end said he suffered a ruptured plantar fascia during the Panthers' 24-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The injury brings Olsen's year to a premature end after a fracture in the same foot kept him out for three games earlier this season.

Related players: Chris Manhertz, Ian Thomas

Olsen's injury immediately robs the Panthers of one of their most valuable weapons on offense. It's also fair to wonder what might be next for the 33-year-old beyond this season, the story went on to say. Injuries to the same foot have limited the three-time Pro Bowler to 15 games over the last two seasons.

Tight end Greg Olsen won't return to Sunday's game against the Buccaneers because of a foot injury.

Related players: Chris Manhertz, Ian Thomas

Olsen injured his right foot early in the second quarter - the same foot that sidelined him earlier this season and much of last season. Right after a snap, Olsen pulled up without making any contact with another player and hobbled toward the Panthers sideline before going to the ground. He was carted off the field soon after and ruled out for the rest of the game very soon after.

Manhertz and Thomas will handle TE duties at least for the remainder of this game. Thomas of course took over for Olsen when he was out with a foot injury earlier this season but was unimpressive in terms of fantasy production.

Panthers team source tells NFL Network as of now, Greg Olsen is playing and they are planning to start him tomorrow. They said Olsen has had no setbacks so far, that he’s had a good week.

Related Players: Ian Thomas, Devin Funchess

We are concerned Olsen will not play a full load of snaps in his return from another foot injury. That keeps him out of our TE1 options for Week 6. In his first game back from injury last year, Olsen only played 34 percent of snaps, catching just one of four targets.

Coach Ron Rivera confirmed Monday that Olsen (foot) has a chance to return for Week 6 against Washington, Max Henson of the Panthers' official site reports.

Related players: Ian Thomas

Later news broke that Olsen will likely get surgery at the end of the season, but hopes the foot will hold up this year. This could make him a risky play week-to-week. As for this week, Rivera hopes to see Olsen on the practice field Wednesday. Olsen did have two limited practices to close out last week. A return to full participation would put Olsen on track to play Week 6, though it's possible the Panthers might limit his snaps.

When Greg Olsen broke his right foot again, and the team didn’t put him on injured reserve, it seemed a pretty clear sign he was coming back soon.

And while there still isn’t a set date in mind, the Panthers tight end said last night he doesn’t think he’ll miss as many games as when he broke it the first time last year (nine).

“Yeah, I’m way ahead of the curve,” Olsen said, via David Newton of ESPN.com. “Last year at two weeks I was laying in my bed in a cast. I couldn’t do anything.

Related players: Ian Thomas

The story said the fact Olsen didn't need surgery signaled a return inside the eight-week window had he been placed on IR. The Panthers have a bye in Week 4 before playing the Giants on Oct. 7.