The Panthers may have more QB troubles coming their way. Backup Sam Darnold has been carted off the field during the team’s preseason finale against the Bills, reports ESPN’s David Newton (Twitter link). NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that he is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain, and that he will have an MRI tomorrow. 
The 25-year-old had his left ankle twisted while taking a hit (video link via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post). The play has resulted in the second piece of bad news for him this week; head coach Matt Rhule recently named Baker Mayfield the team’s starting quarterback. The position is facing serious question marks now, however.
Third-round rookie Matt Corral is likely out for the season after he suffered a Lisfranc injury. He was not in the running for the starting role, but had a comfortable grip on the No. 3 spot as a developmental reserve. If Darnold were to miss any significant time, Mayfield would of course remain a first-teamer, but the team would be dangerously thin behind him.
The team has announced, to no surprise, that Darnold will not return. The Panthers also have two other notable players who have gotten banged up during tonight’s game. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown left the contest with an oblique injury, Newton tweets. Any absence from the 2020 first-rounder would be a major blow to the team’s defensive interior.
In addition, kicker Zane Gonzalez required a cart to leave the field, as noted (on Twitter) by The Athletic’s Joseph Person. He suffered a groin injury and, like Darnold and Brown, will not return. The 27-year-old was injured last season during warmups before a game against the Bills.
In Darnold’s absence, P.J. Walker has taken over at QB. The multi-year backup won each of the starts he has made during spot-duty with the team, but was thought to be on the roster bubble even after Corral’s injury. A significant absence from Darnold, in conjunction with Corral being sidelined indefinitely, could leave Walker with a clear path to a roster spot. With more than $21MM in cap space, the Panthers could also have the flexibility to add a more experienced insurance policy.
That’s so Sam Darnold.
Are you reading this, Omar Khan?
There are a lot of worse things than stashing Rudolph in the roster. Make him the number 3 QB during the week so Pickett can get the practice time. Potentially dress Rudolph for the games until Pickett is truly ready to roll. This would help avoid another Duck Hodges situation.
I agree with you overall… unless Carolina wants to pony up a 4th or even a 5th round pick. The Steelers have traded away or wasted a lot of mid-round picks in recent years.
Looks like Rudolph will stay a Steeler. Nobody is giving up a 4th or a 5th. There will be better quarterbacks available for free
You’re probably right, and I’d be OK with that. As long as he wouldn’t cause a problem in the locker room.
I hear Kaep is willing to become a robot again.
It is 2032 and a QB is injured.. Someone immediately comments.. Kaep is available.
“Gentlemen….there’s a MEME….”
Kaep isn’t even USFL material. He stinks and always has
Who owns the record for rushing yards in a playoff game? By the way it was 181 yards. I know he’s controversial and he faded in his later years with SF. But don’t speak like he has always sucked. GREEN BAY FANS ARE STILL SCARED OF HIM!And probably Mostert
He always sucked. It just took a year for the league to figure that out. What did that rushing yardage in a playoff game win him?
The game jackass.
And then what did he do after that? I believe he lost his job to Blaine Gabbert….then he pulled a race hustle that Al Sharpton would drool over.
Wtf does this have to do with darnold? We’ve had this talk 1000x about Kap 7 years ago. Nobody cares anymore dude. Bruh I’m not gonna call u racist but your weird.
I’ll call you racist for no reason. There. How’d that feel. You’re weird, too. Obviously you care because you are taking the time to post about him. Admit it, you love Kaep and the hustle he swindled. He made more money race hustling than he ever did playing QB in the NFL. FACTS. 100%. Bet you didn’t know that, huh?
Nah, Disturber, he’s an immature troll and blatant racist. He brings up Kaepernick unprovoked for the sole purpose of making racist comments about him. His previous racist comments were deleted by the admins for a reason.
Funny, because I didn’t troll anyone nor did I mention any race in any of my posts. The fact that I didn’t mention any race and yet somebody assumed something makes them the racist one. I don’t make racist comments.
Really? This is what you are doing now. How much of a troll are you?
He just stole my username
Now you are lying Brownspacker 9. There is no way this site would let two people have the same username. Just come clean and stop lying again.
I’m not Brownsbacker, you are. You aren’t very clever.
Really? I guess you realized how futile it was to continue on pretending to be me and before Pro Football Rumors suspended your account you decided to change back to your original name. I told you everyone would see through your tricks.
Weird. I didn’t see Kaepernick’s name mentioned in the article.
This site isn’t owned and run by Mike Florio, that’s why.
Then why’d you mention it? You’re weird, bruh.
The irony.
Stop using words incorrectly.
cam bout to come back again
Cam Newton, darn tootin…
You’re are lit Brownspacker9
That’d be a great comment if it were actually made to Brownsbacker9
Of course you’re him. I went back and checked and you started posting right after he stopped. He was a troll and so are you. It’s too obvious
I assure you I am not him. I am far from a Cleveland Browns fan and would never back that was as stupid with money as that franchise is to give a moron a record, fully guaranteed contract even if he wasn’t a serial sexual predator.
Now, would Brownsbacker ever post something like that about Watson and the Browns?
Trolls would Brownspacker. You have the same name calling that he did. It’s too obvious
So I guess everyone that name calls on a message board is Brownsbacker9. That makes a lot of sense.
No politics, you’re right. It’s really amazing how much ‘courage’ some people have when anonymously online.
Now this right here is actual irony.
Yeah, that Dope Brownies guy is a real piece of work.
It was him all along. See the silly game this dude plays?
So much talk of Kaep, in an article talking about Sam Darnold.
I hope these injuries don’t extend to the rest of the backfield.. I’d love to see a fit and firing Mayfield/McCaffrey combo.
McCaffrey is the Panthers’ impact player — their chances of contending last only as long as he stays healthy.