Panthers: Austin Corbett discusses the difficulty of injury rehab and pending return
Austin Corbett knows pain. Well, at least physical pain. The right guard has been rehabbing for the better part of the last seven months after tearing his ACL in the 2022 regular-season finale in New Orleans.On Sunday, Corbett opened up regarding the rehab process detailing where things currently stand and how far he has come. "It's just crazy […]
Austin Corbett knows pain.
Well, at least physical pain. The right guard has been rehabbing for the better part of the last seven months after tearing his ACL in the 2022 regular-season finale in New Orleans.
On Sunday, Corbett opened up regarding the rehab process detailing where things currently stand and how far he has come.
"It's just crazy how long it truly is," Corbett stated. "You always kind of think when you see ACLs, you're just like alright, it's going to be nine months. But once you start going through it every single day you don't realize just how long it really is and how much it honestly sucks. But we're doing great. It's been really solid. Finally just being able to get back on the field a little bit and do some work, some change of direction stuff, it's coming along. We're adding more every day and seeing how it reacts and just continue to go from there.
"Still talking to doctors. We got another appointment coming up to see what we're doing from there in terms of time-wise. Obviously, got to be smart don't want to rush into anything because it's a long season. Just being a competitor growing up, we were constantly preached to just work harder, try harder. And this is the first time in my life where no matter what I do, I can't push through it. I'm not allowed to. It's just a timing thing. That's kind of been the hardest thing just sitting around I get so bored so fast. Those first couple months being on crutches, being very limited walking around it was just tough. I want to be doing more, but I just can't. It was a mental struggle there and just understanding that it's okay to take it slow."
It hasn't been a perfect process for Corbett. However, he is slowly improving throughout training camp, and the Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich said he is still on track to be ahead of schedule in his return.
"Still optimistic," Reich said. "He's still ahead of schedule, but we're not rushing that. I mean, we're not anticipating him being ready for Week 1. We'll just be patient. He's doing great. If you watched him move around, you'd say he looks like he could play Week 1 but that kind of injury, you go somewhat by the progress that they're making and then to that injury, there's just, it takes what it takes as far as time. And years of history of that injury tell you don't rush even when they're way ahead of schedule, it's still better to be cautious and don't get him in there too soon."
Still, it has been a long process for Corbett ad he is ready to play football once again.
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Feature image via Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports.
