Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule stated backup quarterback Sam Darnold and kicker Zane Gonzalez each suffered "vital" accidents within the 21-0 preseason win over the Buffalo Payments on Friday night time.
Darnold has a excessive ankle sprain, which is often a four-to-six week damage. However Rhule stated docs haven’t decided how a lot time he’ll miss, including that placing him on short-term injured reserve is a risk.
Darnold’s left ankle twisted awkwardly after Payments defensive deal with C.J. Brewer landed on him because the quarterback was releasing the ball. A number of Panthers gamers ran over to him as he was helped onto the cart. Payments quarterback Josh Allen, a very good pal of Darnold’s, additionally ran onto the sector to supply encouragement.
Darnold was 5 of 11 for 49 yards and ran for a 1-yard landing to present Carolina a 21-0 lead. He was 4-7 final season as Carolina’s starter.
The Panthers will enter the season with Baker Mayfield as their starter and PJ Walker as his backup.
"We’re undecided of the precise size of that damage," Rhule stated Saturday on a videoconference name. "We despatched these photographs to a specialist to gauge it, nevertheless it does appear like a major damage that might take a while."
Gonzalez’s damage seems even worse, and there's a risk it could possibly be season-ending. He'll see a specialist to find out the diploma of damage.
Rhule wouldn’t specify what Gonzalez did to his groin whereas working towards kicks into the online on the sideline. However he stated the Panthers will likely be seeking to signal a kicker earlier than the Sept. 11 regular-season opener in opposition to the Cleveland Browns.
"We're bringing guys in and determining our choices," Rhule stated.
Gonzalez completed final season 20 of twenty-two on area targets after becoming a member of the Panthers in Week 2 of the common season and making 22 of 23 further factors. The Panthers re-signed Gonzalez to a two-year, $4.5 million contract after he made his last 17 area targets final season.
That is the second straight week the Panthers have misplaced a quarterback to an damage in a preseason sport.
Final week rookie Matt Corral, the group’s third-round draft choose, suffered a season-ending damage when he tore a ligament in his foot in a 20-10 loss to the New England Patriots.
Reporting by Related Press.
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C.J. Brewer
C.J. Brewer
