Sam Darnold carted off after scary ankle injury

Sam Darnold suffered an ankle injury against the Buffalo Bills and was carted off the field.

Injuries are mounting in the Carolina Panthers’ final preseason game. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown left the game with an oblique injury, and kicker Zane Gonzalez was carted off after injuring his groin while warming up on the sideline. Then there is backup quarterback Sam Darnold, who was taken off the field on a cart after suffering a lower-body injury.

Darnold was sliding to his right while being pressured, trying to get off a throw before taking a sack. He managed to get the ball out of his hands, but when falling to the turf with a defender on him, his left ankle twisted awkwardly:

Darnold was taken off the field on a cart, and quickly ruled out with an ankle injury:

Darnold is not the only Carolina quarterback to suffer an injury in recent weeks. Rookie passer Matt Corral suffered a Lisfranc injury in Carolina’s second preseason game, and is out for the season.

If Darnold has suffered a severe injury, that could leave the Panthers with Baker Mayfield and P.J. Walker as their two healthy quarterbacks for the start of the season.