Matt Corral’s rookie season is likely over before it even begins

Matt Corral suffered a Lisfranc injury during the Carolina Panthers’ latest preseason game.

It looks to be season over for Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Matt Corral already.

The former Ole Miss football star quarterback sustained a Lisfranc injury in his foot during Carolina’s second preseason game at the New England Patriots on Friday night. His head coach Matt Rhule believes this injury is a significant one, as it will almost certainly be season over for the rookie. Corral was battling to back up Baker Mayfield with Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker this year.

While this stinks for Corral, it makes the backup battle between Darnold and Walker even spicier.

Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Matt Corral likely out for the season

No doubt about it, this is brutal for Corral. He was seen as one of the four best quarterback prospects entering the 2022 NFL Draft. While he fell to Carolina, Corral still has the potential to be the best signal-caller in his draft class. However, not being able to play at all during his rookie year when Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder and Malik Willis surely are has to be absolutely devastating.

Not only is this awful for Corral, this is less than ideal for Rhule, who might have the hottest seat in the NFL entering the season. The former Baylor and Temple head coach has to win in year three in Charlotte. Otherwise, newish owner David Tepper will be swift to pull the plug on Rhule’s Carolinian reign. Having Corral show promise would have been a huge plus in him keeping his job.

Ultimately, it is all about Mayfield for Carolina this year. With him beating out Darnold after only being on the Panthers roster for weeks says everything you need to know about the quarterback battle. Given that Walker is the longest-tenured quarterback of the bunch and played for Rhule at Temple, he could make the 53-man roster. The pressure is all on Darnold to make this team now.

As painful as it is, Corral going down for the count makes things ever so slightly clearer in Carolina.