Matt Corral Aug 12, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Matt Corral (2) during pre game warm ups against the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots have waived quarterback Matt Corral, less than three weeks after they signed him off waivers.

A third-round draft pick in 2022 by the Carolina Panthers, Corral was injured last year and did not play at all. Carolina waived him Aug. 30 and the Patriots picked him up the next day.

But the former Ole Miss star left the team on Sept. 9 and didn’t report for a couple of days, leading the Patriots to put him on the exempt/left squad list.

At the time, Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna reported that a source said Corral, “just kind of flaked out. … Let’s be careful this guy doesn’t get thrown to the wolves.”

Head coach Bill Belichick did not shed any light on the situation two days later, saying, “He’s on exempt status. I don’t have any comment on it. That’s a personal matter.”

The Patriots also made another QB move Monday, releasing quarterback Ian Book from the practice squad.

Corral, who publicly battled depression while at Ole Miss, was apparently physically healthy. Given the previous report on Corral leaving the Pats, many in the NFL world wished him well after hearing Monday’s news.


[Doug Kyed, Boston Herald]

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.