Matt Corral exits Panthers' preseason game early with foot injury

The Carolina Panthers just wrapped up the week two preseason game against the New England Patriots. For the matchup, the only two quarterbacks to play for the Panthers were PJ Walker and rookie quarterback Matt Corral. Walker and Corral alternated drives for much of the game until the closing minutes of the matchup. But on the last few offensive possessions for Carolina, the Ole Miss rookie did not see any action, and for good reason.

According to Panthers head coach Matt Rhule, Corral had his foot stepped on during the game and was taken to get X-rays on the injury. 

Although fans would have liked to see more from the former Rebel, the injury appeared significant enough for him not only to be removed from the game but to have X-rays taken. There was no additional word on the severity of Corral’s injury. But depending on the type of injury, this could spell the end of the preseason for the rookie. 

Panthers reveal quarterback rotation for Patriots preseason game

The Carolina Panthers announced that P.J. Walker would start and play the first and third quarters in tonight’s preseason contest against the New England Patriots. Walker would be spelled in the second and fourth quarters by rookie quarterback Matt Corral, the third-round selection out of Ole Miss.

Panther’s head coach Matt Rhule went with Walker after an intense week of joint practices with the Patriots where Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold were working with the first team. According to Panthers.com, Rhule said part of the idea came from offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, who wants to give Walker and Corral a clear picture of what life is like as a backup quarterback.

“It’s two things; we want to see them both with the same groups, as best we can, so they both have the same set of receivers, and there’s a consistency there,” Rhule said. “And then we see them with the third group, so there’s some consistency there.

“Then the second part, and this was coach McAdoo’s idea, and his perspective, as a backup quarterback, you have to be ready to go in the game at a moment’s notice, and you have to be able to excel and play well without having much of a chance to warm up. This is our way of simulating that for them, where they have to warm up and get cooled down and go in there and be hot; that’s how I see it.”