A former Tennessee Vols standout was pushed into a starting role in the NFL this week due to an injury.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales announced on Monday that center Austin Corbett is going on injured reserve with a torn MCL.

The #Panthers took multiple injury hits to their O-line, as guard Robert Hunt has torn his biceps, while Austin Corbett is out with a torn MCL, coach Dave Canales said. pic.twitter.com/w5Vbtxl2uS

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2025

With Corbett heading to IR, it means that former Vols offensive lineman Cade Mays will step into the starting center role for the Panthers.

Panthers brought back their top nine offensive linemen from last year. That depth will be leaned on heavily.
Cade Mays replaces Austin Corbett at C.
Chandler Zavala steps in for Robert Hunt at RG.

— Joe Person (@josephperson) September 15, 2025

Cade Mays played well at center for the Carolina Panthers in 2024

Mays, a sixth round selection by the Panthers in the 2022 NFL Draft, started eight games at center for Carolina last season.

The former Vol played every snap in a Week 18 win against the Atlanta Falcons last year while earning an 81.4 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus. 

Some of Panthers quarterback Bryce Young’s best games in the NFL (including that Week 18 game against the Falcons last season) have come with Mays at center. So maybe Mays moving into the starting lineup will be an upgrade for Carolina (even though Corbett beat out Mays for the starting job during training camp).

The Panthers are set to take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3, which means Mays and the rest of the Carolina offensive line will be tasked with slowing down former Vols edge rusher James Pearce.

Pearce, who is in his rookie season with the Falcons, earned his first career NFL sack in Week 2 in a win against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football.