Carolina Panthers release oft-injured cornerback Eli Apple

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers on Tuesday launched cornerback Eli Apple hours after he left apply for remedy on a hamstring harm that has hampered him a lot of the season.

Apple, 25, signed a one-year, $3 million deal in Might, however he was energetic for under two video games as a result of accidents.

The tenth choose of the 2016 draft by the New York Giants, Apple spent the primary three video games on injured reserve with ankle/foot accidents. He performed solely six special-teams snaps in a Week 4 win in opposition to Arizona earlier than one other hamstring harm compelled him to overlook the subsequent two video games.

Apple performed 28 snaps in Sunday’s loss at New Orleans, recording 4 tackles in opposition to the final crew he performed for earlier than coming to Carolina.

Apple arrived at apply on Tuesday because the Panthers (3-4) continued making ready for Thursday night time’s sport in opposition to Atlanta (1-6), however left throughout the media portion and was reported as a nonparticipant.

“He simply did not really feel like he might go, so we despatched him inside,” coach Matt Rhule stated.

The Panthers, already lacking beginning nook Rasul Douglas, who went on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 listing final week, will enter the Atlanta sport with rookie Troy Pride Jr. and Donte Jackson beginning at nook.

The one different corners at present on the 53-man roster are nickelback Corn Elder and rookie Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, so the crew might need to signal one other participant if Douglas is not reactivated.