Full Breakdown
Panthers Add Kyle Trask After Haynes King's Hamstring Injury
8/10/2026, 12:54:08 AM
Core Event
The Carolina Panthers signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask on Sunday to serve as a third quarterback after rookie Haynes King was ruled week-to-week with a hamstring strain suffered in the Hall of Fame Game. Trask joins starter Bryce Young and backup Kenny Pickett on the preseason roster.
Background & Context
King’s debut against the Arizona Cardinals produced a 33-30 win, highlighted by a five-yard rushing touchdown on the final play. The injury occurred during that play, leaving the Panthers with only two healthy quarterbacks. To address the sudden depth shortage, the team signed Trask, who had previously worked out for Carolina on July 29 (as reported by USA Today).
Data & Statistics
- Haynes King: 21-of-34 completions for 180 yards, 2 passing touchdowns; 3 carries for 39 rushing yards and the game-winning touchdown.
- Kyle Trask: 11 career pass attempts, 4 completions for 28 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions (Bleacher Report; Sports Illustrated). He was a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2020 with 4,283 passing yards, 43 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
- Roster moves: Alongside Trask’s signing, the Panthers waived wide receiver Malick Meiga and linebacker Nick Hampton with injury designations (QCNews; Sports Illustrated).
Official Statements & Responses
Head coach Dave Canales explained that King’s hamstring injury happened on the final, game-winning play and that the team will monitor his status on a weekly basis. Canales also noted that Trask’s familiarity with offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and former Panthers staff from their time in Tampa Bay made the addition a logical fit for the short-term depth need.
Bryce Young expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming practice week, saying he looks forward to playing live football again after the preseason break.
Verbatim Quotes
- “And so we'll just keep evaluating him on a weekly basis.” — Dave Canales, panthers coach
- “I'm excited to just go out there with the guys,” — Bryce Young
- “From what I understood, it was on that last play—where he kinda lunged forward and dove for the goal line, and really gave everything he had, literally,” — Dave Canales, panthers coach
- “If you watch Kyle’s film and you throw on any of the games across the league, you’ll see this is a real talent — this is a real starting-level talent at quarterback. He just has [calmness] in the pocket, he’s accurate and he just stays cool throughout the whole thing -- good or bad series, he’s right back on it. Pretty cool,” — Dave Canales, panthers coach
What's Next
The Panthers will face the Buffalo Bills in their next preseason contest, giving Trask an opportunity to practice with the offense while King continues his rehabilitation. The outcome of King’s weekly evaluations will determine whether he returns for that game or remains sidelined.
