Charlotte, NC – Panthers backup quarterback Sam Darnoldwho lost the starting function to Baker Mayfield Earlier in the week, he left Friday’s pre-season final against Buffalo on a golf cart after sustaining a left ankle injury late in the third quarter.
He did not return to the match, which the Panthers won 21-0. Coach Matt Rowley then said the team did not believe the injury was a fracture, but Darnold would have more tests.
Rhule has not provided any possible timelines for Darnold’s absence.
This was the second time in a week that the Panthers had lost a quarterback in a pre-season game. Third round selection Matt Coral He suffered a Lisfranc tear at the end of the season in last Friday’s pre-season loss in New England.
If Darnold’s injury is serious, the Panthers will go down to quarterbacks – Mayfield and former XFL star PJ Walker Heading to the September 11 opener against the Cleveland Browns.
The Panthers had planned to keep three quarterbacks earlier in camp, and Coral is expected to be third behind Mayfield and Darnold. Coral’s mental injury changed her to keep two, but Darnold’s injury may force another adjustment.
Darnold was hit from behind by a defensive tackle in Buffalo CJ Brewer While running to his right to throw the ball away. Brewer’s body seemed to be rolling down Darnold’s ankle.
Darnold stayed down for several minutes before being helped into the golf cart.
Mayfield started and completed 9 of 15 passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns in a quarter and a half for a passer rating of 116.4. Darnold was 5 for 11 for 48 yards. He also had a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter to make it 21-0.
The Panthers acquired Darnold last year in a trade with the New York Jets. He went 4-7 as the start of 2021.
Carolina acquired Mayfield in a July business deal with Cleveland, which moved from first pick in 2018 after the acquisition. Deshaun Watson from Houston.
Mayfield and Darnold, third picks for the 2018 draft, were what the team called an open competition for the job that became Mayfield on Monday.
Carolina Kicker also saw Zayn Gonzalez Left on a cart with a groin injury while kicking in the net on the sideline. Gonzalez suffered a four-way injury at the end of the season last year at Buffalo in December.
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