The Panthers beat the Texans 24-9 on Thursday, but Week 3 didn’t end well for Christian McCaffrey.
Carolina’s star running back suffered a hamstring strain in the second quarter, coach Matt Rhule confirmed after the game. Rhule said he was unsure of the severity of McCaffrey’s injury, and that he will undergo additional tests.
McCaffrey’s girlfriend, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Olivia Culpo shared a subtle but sweet Instagram Story post after his injury. She reposted a photo of the Pro-Bowler on the field alongside quarterback Sam Darnold and added three red heart emojis.
Culpo watched the game from her Los Angeles home with the couple’s dog, Oliver. The toy golden doodle has nearly 20,000 Instagram followers, and McCaffrey is featured in photos throughout the account.
The model and actress attended the Panthers’ season-opener against the Jets with her sister Sophia, who’s dating receiver Braxton Berrios. Olivia made sure to playfully taunt her sister about the Panthers’ 19-14 win over the Jets in Week 1.
On Thursday, McCaffrey injured his hamstring in the second quarter while making a run on first-and-10 from the Texans’ 14-yard line. He did not return to the game after spending time in the medical tent, and was able to later walk gingerly to the locker room.
Olivia Culpo’s response to a photo of Chistian McCaffrey and Sam Darnold.InstagramQuarterback Sam Darnold spoke to McCaffrey after the game and described him as feeling “sad.”
“We’ll be all right without him,” Darold said, adding that he’s thinking of his running back during this time. “Obviously, we want him back. But I want him to take his time and make sure he’s good for the end of the season.”
Following McCaffrey’s injury, first-round pick Jaycee Horn went down with a broken right foot. It’s unclear how long he’ll be out.
McCaffrey missed 13 games last season due to a number of injuries, including a high ankle sprain in Week 2.
Thursday’s win over the Texans moved the Panthers to 3-0 for just the fifth time in team history.
Carolina visits Dallas on Oct. 3.
