Sam Darnold carted off after suffering ugly ankle injury

Trainers attend to Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers QB Sam Darnold carted off after suffering gruesome ankle injury

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated Aug 26, 2022 11:05 PM ET

Sam Darnold's season may be in jeopardy less than a week after losing the Carolina Panthers' starting quarterback battle to Baker Mayfield.

During the Panthers' preseason matchup on Friday night against the Buffalo Bills, Darnold appeared to suffer a severe left ankle injury.

Bills rookie defensive tackle C.J. Brewer hit Darnold as he attempted to throw a ball away. As Darnold went to the crowd, his left ankle rolled underneath Brewer's body gruesomely.

Trainers attended to Darnold before being carted off the field.

Wouldn’t watch this if you get queasy easily … but this is why Sam Darnold was carted off. Watch his left ankle. pic.twitter.com/FWiud7vVmu
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 27, 2022

Darnold went 5-of-11 for 49 passing yards while adding a one-yard touchdown run.

Meanwhile, Mayfield finished 9-of-15 for 89 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-0 Panthers win over the Bills.

Darnold started 11 games for the Panthers last season, throwing for 2,527 yards with nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

If the 25-year-old is out for an extended time, P.J. Walker will slot in as the official backup to Mayfield unless the Panthers decide to add a veteran to their quarterback room.

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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