The Carolina Panthers probably (or even closer to definitely) won’t have starting right guard Austin Corbett to open the 2023 season. Nonetheless, the team remains optimistic about his road to recovery.
On Saturday, head coach Frank Reich talked about Corbett’s progress from an ACL tear, one he sustained in the 2022 finale against the New Orleans Saints.
“Still optimistic,” Reich said. “He’s still ahead of schedule. ‘Ahead of schedule.’ But we’re not rushing that, right? We’re not anticipating him being ready for Week 1, right? So, we’ll just be patient. He’s doin’ great. If you watched him move around, you’d say he looks like he could play Week 1.
“But that kind of injury, you go somewhat by the progress that they’re making—and then, to that injury, it just takes what it takes in terms of time. Years of history on that injury tell you, ‘Don’t rush.’ Even when they’re ahead of schedule, it’s better to be cautious and don’t get him in there too soon.”
While they remain patient, Reich and the Panthers continue their competition at the right guard spot. The battle, in fact, has gotten a recent pair of jolts from a couple of rookies.
The undrafted Nash Jensen, who has been impressing at training camp, rolled with some first-team reps this morning. Plus, fourth-rounder Chandler Zavala participated in his first piece of summer action after being activated from the active/physically unable to perform list this morning.
