SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Carolina Panthers have placed starting defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu on injured reserve, ending his season the same day he underwent surgery on his torn right Achilles’ tendon.

The Panthers replaced him on the 80-man roster Wednesday with undrafted rookie George Hypolite.
Kemoeatu was injured minutes into Carolina’s first training camp practice Monday. Kemoeatu said Tuesday he was holding out hope of returning for the last month of the season, but the Panthers likely couldn’t hold a roster spot that long.
The 6-foot-1, 290-pound Hypolite played at Colorado. He was waived by Jacksonville last month.
The Panthers will likely continue to look for help at defensive tackle, an area they had little depth before Kemoeatu’s injury.