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Patriots claim former Panthers QB Matt Corral off waivers

DSprofileby:Dustin Schutte•08/31/23•

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matt corral
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The Patriots have added another quarterback to the roster. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, New England claimed former Panthers quarterback Matt Corral.

Corral was a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Panthers. But Carolina already moved on from the gunslinger, selection Bryce Young with the top pick in 2023.

New England picks up Corral after re-signing Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham to the practice squad. The two quarterbacks were initially cut ahead of the deadline for the Patriots to reach a 53-man roster for the upcoming season, leaving the team with Mac Jones as the lone QB.

Corral enters his second season in the NFL. He played at Ole Miss from 2018-21, throwing for 8,287 yards with 57 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Corral completed more than 67% of his passes while with the Rebels.

In 2021, Corral earned second-team All-SEC honors after throwing for 3,349 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 614 yards and 11 touchdowns that year.

Patriots make interesting QB moves

A lot of chatter surrounded New England after making the interesting move to release both Cunningham and Zappe earlier in the week. That decision came as the Patriots trimmed the roster down to 53 players.

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Jones was the only quarterback on the roster. A pretty bold move from head coach Bill Belichick.

However, New England added both players to the practice squad a short time later. The two won’t count against the team’s 53-man roster currently, but they could be elevated to the active roster if the Patriots need more help at QB.

And considering how easily an injury can happen in the NFL, that’s probably a wise idea.

Mac Jones enters third season with New England

There are still some questions surrounding Jones and his ability to turn New England back into a Super Bowl contender. And heading into 2023, it feels like somewhat of a make-or-break year for the quarterback.

This year marks Jones’ third in the NFL with the Patriots. Through his first two seasons, he owns a 16-15 record, throwing for 6,798 yards and 36 touchdowns with 24 interceptions.

New England opens up the 2023 campaign on Sunday, Sept. 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET and the game airs on CBS.