Austin Corbett #63 of the Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers’ offensive line suffered another significant blow, as veteran lineman Austin Corbett will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his biceps in Week 5. Panthers head coach Dave Canales delivered the unfortunate news on Monday, marking the latest in a string of injury woes for the seventh-year guard-turned-center.
Corbett, 29, has faced a tough stretch of injuries over the past two seasons. After remaining relatively healthy through the early part of his career, including suiting up for all 17 games in his first Panthers season in 2021, his fortunes turned. In Week 18 of that same year, he suffered a torn ACL, leading to missed time in 2022. He briefly returned in 2023, only to be sidelined again by an MCL injury, which limited him to just four games that year. Now, with his latest injury, Corbett’s 2024 campaign has come to an abrupt end after only five games.
Corbett had transitioned from guard to center this season, a move that was necessitated by Carolina’s focus on improving the interior line during the offseason. The Panthers made big moves, signing Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to bolster the guard positions, pushing Corbett to anchor the line at center. He performed admirably in the new role, starting every game through Week 5 and allowing just one sack and three pressures according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). His 62.9 PFF grade showed some improvement from last season, though it didn’t quite match his stellar play from his debut season in Carolina or his time with the Los Angeles Rams.
With Corbett now set for a lengthy recovery ahead of his next free-agent period, his absence leaves a gaping hole in the Panthers’ offensive line. Carolina’s run game has been a bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming season offensively, ranking in the middle of the league with 111 rushing yards per game. However, with backup quarterback Andy Dalton at the helm, the offensive line’s stability will be critical as the Panthers look to maintain their ground attack and keep the offense afloat.
Corbett’s injury adds to the long list of challenges for the Panthers this season, and head coach Dave Canales will need to find solutions quickly to protect Dalton and maintain a functioning offense. The Panthers will likely shuffle their line once again, as they look to overcome yet another setback in what has been a difficult year.
