Cade Mays Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Panthers vs Saints game on Dec 14, 2025 with our National Football League injury report.Nov 28, 2025
Out for Week 13
Mays (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Rams, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays is now in line to miss his second consecutive game due to a lingering ankle issue. While he's sidelined again in Week 13, expect Austin Corbett to step in and start at center.
Nov 27, 2025
DNP on Wednesday
Mays (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
Mays was injured last month in a Week 8 loss to the Bills. He must have aggravated the injury, causing Mays to miss Monday night's loss to the 49ers. Austin Corbett made the start at center for Carolina against San Francisco.
Nov 22, 2025
Won't play Week 12
May (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the 49ers, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.
ANALYSIS
May popped up on Saturday's injury report as a DNP due to a lingering ankle injury. With the fourth-year pro sidelined for Week 12, Austin Corbett will draw the start at center for Monday night's game.
Nov 5, 2025
Past ankle issue
Mays (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays was sidelined for Carolina's Week 9 win over the Packers after sustaining an ankle injury the game prior. However, it now appears he's moved past the issue and will likely operate as the Panthers' top center in the Week 10 matchup against the Saints.
Oct 31, 2025
Won't play Sunday
Mays (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Packers.
ANALYSIS
The 26-year-old sustained an ankle injury in the Panthers' Week 8 loss to the Bills and was unable to practice all week. He's now set to miss his first game of the season, with Austin Corbett likely stepping in as the Panthers' top center in Week 9.
Oct 29, 2025
No practice to start week
Mays did not practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays suffered the ankle injury in Carolina's Week 8 loss to the Bills. Though his status is not yet official, coach Dave Canales said he does not expect Mays to play this week, per Gantt and Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official site. That will likely push Austin Corbett into a starting role under center.
Oct 26, 2025
Doubtful to return
Mays (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Bills, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays went down with an ankle injury late in the second quarter of Sunday's contest. 30-year-old veteran Austin Corbett will replace Mays for the time being.
Dec 25, 2024
Logs full practice Tuesday
Mays (illness) was listed as a full participant in Tuesday's practice session, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays missed Sunday's win over Arizona due to an illness that wasn't reported until that morning. Carolina held a practice at "half-speed" Tuesday due to a scheduled Christmas off day Wednesday, and Mays' presence as a full participant seems to indicate that he's past the illness. If that's the case, he should be able to return to action Sunday versus Tampa Bay.
Dec 22, 2024
Won't play against Arizona
Mays (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays was added to the Panthers' injury report early Sunday morning due to an illness, and it is severe enough for him to be sidelined against Arizona. His next opportunity to play will be Week 17 against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Dec. 29. Brady Christensen is expected to start at center for Carolina due to Mays' illness.
Dec 22, 2024
Iffy for Sunday with illness
Carolina added Mays to its injury report and lists him as questionable for Sunday's game against Arizona with an illness.
ANALYSIS
Mays becomes the third Panthers offensive lineman listed as questionable with an illness leading up to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff, joining left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and right guard Robert Hunt. If Mays is unable to play through the ailment, Brady Christensen could step in for him as Carolina's starting center.
Oct 8, 2024
Back with Carolina
Carolina signed Mays off the Giants' practice squad to the active roster Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays is back with the Panthers, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He appeared in 27 games (including seven starts) in his two years in Carolina, but he was waived at the end of training camp after failing to make the 53-man roster. Bringing Mays back gives the Panthers depth in the interior offensive line following the loss of Austin Corbett (biceps) for the rest of the regular season.
Aug 29, 2024
Let go by Panthers
Mays (shoulder) was waived by Carolina on Wednesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays has appeared in 27 games (including seven starts) for the Panthers since being selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was pushing for a starting role in training camp, but he was sidelined for the Panthers' final two preseason games due to a shoulder sprain. Mays was not waived with an injury designation, indicating that his shoulder is fine. He'll look to catch on with another team in need of depth on the offensive line.
Aug 10, 2024
Sidelined with shoulder sprain
Head coach Dave Canales said Saturday that Mays will be out a couple of weeks due to an AC sprain in his shoulder that he sustained in Thursday's 17-3 loss to the Patriots, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
The Panthers entered Thursday's contest with just seven offensive lineman active, with Mays getting the start at center. It's unclear when he sustained the injury, but with Mays potentially out for the last two games of the preseason, Austin Corbett and Andrew Raym are likely to see more snaps under center.
Jul 30, 2024
Participating at training camp
Mays (finger) has been an active participant at training camp with the Panthers, Anthony Rizzuti of Panthers Wire reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays finished the 2023 season on the sidelines with a finger injury, but he now appears to be fully healthy. The 25-year-old is looking to crack the active roster in 2024 as a depth option behind Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt at offensive guard.
Jul 30, 2024
Participating at training camp
Mays (finger) has been an active participant at training camp with the Panthers, Anthony Rizzuti of Panthers Wire reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays finished the 2023 season on the sidelines with a finger injury, but he now appears to be fully healthy. The 25-year-old is looking to crack the active roster in 2024 as a depth option behind Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt at offensive guard.
Jan 7, 2024
Won't play Sunday
Mays (finger) is inactive Sunday against the Buccaneers.
ANALYSIS
Mays' inability to suit up isn't a surprise after he was deemed doubtful on the team's final injury report. In his absence, Ilm Manning should get the start at left guard.
Jan 6, 2024
Doubtful for Sunday
Mays (finger) is listed as doubtful ahead of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
ANALYSIS
Despite a week of limited practice sessions, Mays is unlikely to suit up in the Panthers' season finale due to the finger injury he suffered in the team's Week 17 loss. If Mays doesn't suit up in Week 18, Ilm Manning is expected to get the opportunity to start at left guard.
Dec 31, 2023
Sustains finger injury in loss
Mays did not return to Sunday's 26-0 loss to the Jaguars after sustaining a finger injury, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
ANALYSIS
Nash Jensen took over for Mays when the latter left the game. His status for the Panthers' regular season finale against the Buccaneers will depend on his practice participation throughout the week.
Dec 1, 2023
Will suit up at Tampa
Mays (ankle) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.
ANALYSIS
After limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, Mays was able to upgrade to full participation Friday and shed his injury designation ahead of the Panthers' game in Week 13. He projects to start at guard Sunday.
Nov 26, 2023
Questionable to return
Mays has an ankle injury and is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Titans, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Third-stringer Nash Jensen replaced Mays at left guard. Starter Chandler Zavala also left the game with an injury.
Aug 22, 2023
Returns to practice
Mays (neck) is practicing Tuesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Mays had been dealing with a neck stinger; however, the Tennessee product is now healthy enough to return to the field. He'll continue working to make the team as a reserve on the offensive line.
Jan 1, 2023
Will play Sunday
Mays (knee) is active Sunday against the Buccaneers.
ANALYSIS
Mays was limited in practice Friday, but he'll take the field in Tampa Bay. His ability to play will bolster the team's offensive line depth
Apr 30, 2022
Selected by Carolina
The Panthers selected Mays in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 199th overall.
ANALYSIS
Mays (6-foot-5, 311 pounds) played guard and tackle at Tennessee, and he has a shot to play either position at the NFL too. His frame and reach are just enough to project as average build for a tackle, and his athletic testing (5.24-second 40, 7.57-second three-cone drill) is above average by tackle standards. If he can't stick there then Mays should make for a fine guard prospect.
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