San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
FOOT INJURY MAY END YEAR FOR PANTHERS ROOKIE QB
Panthers rookie quarterback Matt Corral has a torn ligament in his left foot and is expected to miss significant time, according to coach Matt Rhule.
Rhule said Corral tore his Lisfranc ligament in Carolina’s 20-10 preseason loss to the New England Patriots on Friday night after his foot got stepped on.
Rhule would not say if the injury is season-ending, but did say the team is viewing it as a long-term injury. Corral is expected to need surgery to fix the tear.
The Panthers traded up in the third round of the NFL Draft this year to get Corral.
With Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold battling for the starting spot at quarterback this year, the Panthers viewed this as a developmental year for Corral. Now he will have to develop by studying the playbook and watching others as they go though plays in practice and in games.
Rhule had said the Panthers had intended to keep three quarterbacks on the roster, but said the Corral injury could mean the team keeps only two if the rookie is placed on injured reserve.
Saturday’s exhibitions
Bills 42, Broncos 15: Josh Allen needed just six plays to lead the Bills 70 yards for an opening-drive touchdown before taking a seat in his preseason debut, and Buffalo routed the visiting Denver Broncos’ backups.
Allen completed all three attempts for 45 yards, capped by a 28-yard touchdown to Gabe Davis in showing he and new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey are on the same page. Backup Case Keenum continued the scoring by closing out the first half overseeing three touchdown drives.
Chiefs 24, Commanders 14: Patrick Mahomes led two similar touchdown drives and host Kansas City defeated Washington in a preseason game.
The first one was a 12play, 87-yard drive in 5:28, capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jody Fortson. The second was a 12-play, 82yard drive that took 5:25 and was capped by a 7-yard touchdown to Fortson.
Steelers 16, Jaguars 15: Kenny Pickett’s second preseason performance was as impressive as his first, and it came against better competition.
Pittsburgh’s rookie quarterback completed 6 of 7 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in a victory at Jacksonville.
Lions 27, Colts 26: Godwin Igwebuike’s 2-yard scoring run gave visiting Detroit a late lead and the defense stopped a 2-point conversion attempt in the final minute to hold on for a victory in a preseason game.
Igwebuike’s tiebreaking score came with 4:03 to play. He had seven carries for 32 yards.
Titans 13, Buccaneers 3: Rookie Malik Willis threw the first touchdown of his NFL career and Tennessee beat visiting Tampa Bay in its exhibition home opener.
Aaron Stinnie, who has been competing for the Bucs’ starting left guard spot, was carted off the field after suffering a knee injury.
Raiders 15, Dolphins 13: Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played in just two series in his preseason debut as host Miami fell to Las Vegas.
It was the first look at
Tagovailoa in the Dolphins’ new system after the team brought in former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Mcdaniel as the new head coach. Playing with most of his starters, Tagovailoa was 6 of 8 for 58 yards.
49ers 17, Vikings 7: Nate Sudfeld led a 14-play, 79-yard drive for a go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter and visiting San Francisco beat Minnesota in a preseason game featuring mostly backups.
Sudfeld started and went 13 of 17 for 102 yards in the competition with rookie Brock Purdy to back up starting quarterback Trey Lance.
Cowboys 32, Chargers 18: Easton Stick completed 11 of 20 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown and Chase Daniel threw a TD pass to Michael Bandy and converted a 2-point conversion with 1:27 left in the battle to be Justin Herbert’s backup as host Los Angeles lost to Dallas.
Notable
Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith is done sitting. The team’s 2018 firstround draft pick had been staging a hold-in while seeking a contract extension, attending practices without taking part, but he began to practice Saturday for the first time at this training camp and plans to play out the year without the deal he is seeking.