Carolina Panthers Shaken Foundations: How the Injuries to Robert Hunt and Austin Corbett Threaten the Team's Offensive Chemistry

The Carolina Panthers’ 2025 season was already teetering after playing without Ikem Ekwonu in Week 1 and what would become a frustrating 0–2 start. But the game responsible for that starting record, Sunday’s 27–22 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, delivered a gut punch that could reverberate for months. Two pillars of the offensive line—Pro Bowl right guard Robert Hunt and veteran center Austin Corbett—suffered significant injuries in the second half, forcing head coach Dave Canales to reshuffle a unit that was expected to be the bedrock of Bryce Young’s 2025 campaign.

With both linemen now placed on injured reserve, the Panthers face a daunting challenge heading into their home opener against the Atlanta Falcons and beyond.

Carolina Panthers Guard, Robert Hunt clears the way for Chuba Hubbard

Robert Hunt, who signed a five-year, $100 million deal in 2024 and earned his first Pro Bowl nod last season, tore his left bicep and will undergo surgery—a procedure that is typically season-ending. According to Canales, however, there is hope that Hunt may make a return later this season. Hunt had been a stabilizing force on the right side, combining elite pass protection with athleticism and punishing run-blocking. His absence removes one of the few consistent performers from a line that has struggled to find cohesion. And with Ekwonu still just a few weeks post-surgery, there is no consistency on either side of the offensive line.

Austin Corbett, meanwhile, suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear in his left knee—the same knee that required ACL and MCL surgery in 2022 and 2023. This marks Corbett’s fourth major injury in as many seasons, and his emotional reaction postgame—“Football sucks. But I love this game so much”—underscored the gravity of the situation. While Canales hasn’t ruled out a late-season return, the odds are stacked against Corbett, who has missed 25 games over the past two years.

With Hunt and Corbett sidelined, the Panthers will turn to Chandler Zavala at right guard and Cade Mays at center. Zavala, a 2023 fourth-round pick, appeared in all 17 games last season but only started nine. Mays, a sixth-rounder from 2022, started eight games last year while filling in for Corbett.

While both backups have shown flashes, their insertion into the starting lineup represents a significant downgrade:

Player	PFF Grade (2024)	Pass Block Win Rate	Run Block Win Rate	Penalties
Robert Hunt	81.2	92.3%	78.6%	3
Austin Corbett	76.5	89.1%	74.4%	2
Chandler Zavala	61.4	78.2%	65.1%	6
Cade Mays	59.8	75.6%	62.3%	5

The drop-off in pass protection is particularly concerning for quarterback Bryce Young, who has already been sacked four times in two games. Atlanta’s defense, which recorded six sacks against Minnesota last week, will be chomping at the bit going into Sunday’s matchup at Bank of America Stadium.

The Panthers’ offensive line was expected to be the team’s strength in 2025, especially with the return of left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and the addition of Hunt. Through two games, Carolina ranked 18th in adjusted line yards and 22nd in sack rate. With Hunt and Corbett out, those numbers are likely to worsen.

Using historical data from similar situations—teams losing two starting interior linemen early in the season—we can project the following:

• Sack Rate Increase: Teams in this scenario see an average increase of 1.2 sacks per game. The Carolina Panthers could go from 4.0 to 5.2 sacks allowed per game.

• Rushing Efficiency Decline: Yards before contact dropping could reduce Chuba Hubbard’s effectiveness between the tackles.

• Third Down Conversion Drop: Interior pressure disrupts timing routes and short-yardage runs. Teams typically see a 7–10% drop in third-down conversion rate with shakeups like this.

For Carolina, that could mean a 10% drop in conversion rate. That would be a critical difference in close games. Nonetheless, head coach Dave Canales, known for his creative run schemes and play-action designs, should adjust quickly. He proved that in the second half against the Cardinals. Expect more outside zone runs to minimize interior pressure and quicker throws to neutralize blitzes.

Tight ends Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas may be asked to chip more frequently, reducing their route participation. Canales may look to Brady Christensen, a versatile lineman with experience at all five positions.

Assuming both linemen miss at least six games, and potentially the entire season, the Panthers’ offensive metrics could suffer across the board. Based on regression models from past seasons with similar injuries:

Metric	With Hunt & Corbett	Without Hunt & Corbett
Points per Game	21.4	17.8
Yards per Play	5.6	4.9
Sack Rate	7.1%	9.3%
Third Down Conversion Rate	38.2%	30.4%
Red Zone TD %	56.7%	48.1%

These declines could be the difference between a 7–10 season and a 4–13 campaign, especially given Carolina’s brutal midseason stretch against the Cowboys, Jets, and Saints.

Corbett’s situation is particularly heartbreaking. Once a durable and dependable starter for the Rams and Panthers, he’s now facing his third major injury to the same knee in four seasons. Medical literature on repeated MCL and ACL injuries suggests a grim prognosis.

The re-injury rate for athletes with multiple ligament tears in the same knee have a 35–40% chance of re-injury within two years. Those linemen typically see a 15–20% drop in mobility and leverage post-recovery. The average career length post-third ligament tear drops to under two seasons. And while Corbett’s leadership and football IQ remain assets, the physical toll may be too great.

Hunt’s torn biceps, while serious, is less likely to be career-threatening. Players like Brandon Brooks and David DeCastro have returned from similar injuries with minimal long-term impact. However, the timing is brutal—Hunt was emerging as one of the league’s top guards and had just begun to justify his massive contract.

If Hunt misses the full season, Carolina will have paid $20 million for roughly six quarters of play. That’s not just a financial blow—it’s a developmental setback for an offense trying to build around Bryce Young.

Atlanta’s defensive front, led by Grady Jarrett and Arnold Ebiketie, will test Carolina’s patchwork interior. Expect heavy blitz packages and stunts aimed at exploiting Zavala and Mays. If Carolina can’t protect Young, the game could spiral quickly. Look for Hunter Renfrow to be a frequent target during this matchup.

The Falcons rank top-10 in pressure rate but have allowed 4.3 yards per carry this season. Without Hunt and Corbett, Carolina may struggle to consistently establish the run or keep Young upright long enough to stretch the field. This will also test the resolve of rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan as the team’s deep threat. While Mc Millan has put up great number this season, Young’s ability to get him the ball will be tested.

The injuries to Robert Hunt and Austin Corbett are more than just personnel losses—they’re seismic shifts in the Panthers’ offensive identity. With a still developing quarterback, a coaching staff trying to plug holes faster than a leaky dike in the Netherlands, and a disgruntled fanbase desperate for progress, the margin for error was already thin. Now, Carolina must navigate the next stretch of the season without two of its most trusted linemen.

For Hunt, the hope is a full recovery and a return to Pro Bowl form in 2026. For Corbett, the road is murkier. His resilience and love for the game are unquestioned, but the body may no longer cooperate.

The home opener against Atlanta will be the litmus test for what the team can muster for much of the 2025 season. Even if Corbett and Hunt return, there is a lag time for them to be productive again.