Carolina Panthers cornerback Stephon Gilmore didn’t realize he was on the injury report until a reporter asked him about it during media availability.
Ahead of the Panthers‘ Wednesday media availability, Carolina released an injury report that included cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
A player landing on the injury report while limited with a knee injury isn’t exactly an unusual occurrence.
What was strange is how Gilmore didn’t know about it.
Stephon Gilmore didn’t even know he was on the Panthers injury list
When a media member asked the cornerback about how he’s feeling, he seemed confused.
“I’m good. I didn’t know I was on the injury report but I’m feeling good—the same,” Gilmore said.
The reporter followed up that the team listed it as a knee injury. Gilmore shook his head slightly and said, “I don’t know.”
So there’s that…
Gilmore started the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list with the Patriots because of the torn quad he suffered near the end of the 2020 season.
New England traded him to Carolina in October and he’s appeared in seven games for the Panthers, starting the most recent two against the Falcons and Bills. According to Pro Football Focus, he has the second-highest coverage grade among cornerbacks since he joined.
Whatever is going on with that bit of miscommunication is relatively minor and it’s ultimately a good thing that it appears Gilmore isn’t hurt. Still, it’s a strange thread in the tapestry of struggles Carolina has dealt with this season. They are 5-9 and in the middle of a four-game losing streak. To end the streak they’ll have to pull off an upset over Gilmore’s old Patriots teammate Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.