CHARLOTTE — The Panthers suffered a painful loss Monday night against the 49ers, and the medical report offered little reprieve.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Tuesday that rookie cornerback Corey Thornton, who had worked his way to more playing time recently, would be lost for the season with a broken fibula.
Thornton, an undrafted rookie from Louisville, had stepped into the secondary mix and had earned the respect of his peers and coaches with his work ethic and preparation. He's also made plays.
"The one thing about Corey, though, that, since Day 1, since he's got here, his preparation habits have been second to none," defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said last week. "I mean veteran habits, in the classroom, on the field, in the training room, in the weight room, how he takes care of his body. This guy is driven. He's on a mission. He's not going to be denied, and he's really just done a heck of a job."
The Panthers came out of the game battered, with cornerback Jaycee Horn and linebacker Claudin Cherelus leaving with concussions, and guard Chandler Zavala leaving with a calf injury. They'll have to go through the protocol and be cleared by an independent neurologist this week.
Check out some of the best shots from the Panthers' Week 12 game against the 49ers.
