Sam Darnold carted off field in final preseason game
The Carolina Panthers have not been shy about who their starting quarterback is. Since trading for Baker Mayfield, the NFC South franchise has said he will be the guy, leaving the backup role for Sam Darnold. That has bled into the preseason, as Darnold was playing in the second half of Carolina’s final preseason game against Buffalo.
Unfortunately, the night has not gone to plan for Darnold. He suffered an injury late in the third quarter and was carted off the field. The exact injury has not been revealed yet but based on a video, it appears as if a Bills player fell on top of the quarterback’s ankle.
Darnold had thrown 11 passes, completing just five of them. He has thrown for 49 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Prior to Friday night, Darnold had only thrown three passes in the preseason. Carolina has limited him and an injury exactly like this is why.
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Carolina will begin the regular season on Sept. 11 with a home game against the Cleveland Browns. While most eyes will be on Mayfield going up against his old squad, the injury of Darnold will be monitored as well. Mayfield suffered a major injury last season and the Panthers will want a strong backup.
Sam Darnold not only Carolina QB with injury
Carolina Panther’s rookie quarterback Matt Corral has a Lisfranc injury, according to The Athletic’s Joe Person. The injury will effectively end Corral’s rookie season before it really got started.
Corral, a third-round pick out of Ole Miss in the 2022 draft, left the Panther’s preseason game against the Patriots on Friday night and was later seen in a walking boot. After the game, head coach Matt Rhule said Corral had his foot stepped on during the game, causing the injury.
Corral was alternating at the quarterback position with P.J. Walker on Friday as the Panthers rested their top two quarterbacks: Mayfield and Darnold. He didn’t appear late in the game after the injury, prompting concern that has since been validated.
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 Rhule, after Corral had his foot stepped he was taken to get X-rays on the injury.