Carolina Panthers starting cornerback Ross Cockrell went down during a red-zone period on Monday with what appeared to be a left knee injury and had to be carted off the field.
It looks like a lower right leg injury for Russ Cockrell. His leg in an air brace as he is carted off. Not a good sign. pic.twitter.com/dCP7xACirJ
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) July 30, 2018
Based on multiple accounts of the injury, it did not look good. Cockrell got tangled up with receiver Torrey Smith on a touchdown catch. It appeared his knee might have gotten twisted, and Cockrell was yelling that his leg is broken.
Cockrell was yelling, “My leg is broke.”
Collided with Torrey Smith, who was on the ground while running in the end zone.— Joe Person (@josephperson) July 30, 2018
Cockrell’s teammates were distraught over the injury.
Ross Cockrell down in pain, players looked disgusted when they saw the injury, it's very quiet out here right now @FOX46News
— Josh Sims (@JoshRSims) July 30, 2018
They quickly surrounded him on the field of play to lend their support and prayers.
Players surround Ross Cockrell, who’s suffered a left leg injury. pic.twitter.com/qGXmBmohG2
— Bill Voth (@BillVothNFL) July 30, 2018
Cockrell signed a two-year, $6.6 million contract with Carolina this offseason. He appeared in all 16 games and started seven for the New York Giants last season and was a full-time starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016.
The former fourth-round pick out of Duke has 32 starts to his credit and has tallied 155 tackles, five interceptions and 36 pass breakups in his four-year career.
Cockrell is the second starter who has suffered a significant injury for Carolina in less than a week, as starting right tackle Daryl Williams went down with a potential season-ending knee injury over the weekend.