After Haynes King Injury, Panthers Sign Former CFB Star QB Kyle Trask to Contract

The Carolina Panthers needed more quarterback depth after rookie Haynes King suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, and they responded by adding a familiar name for college football fans.

Carolina announced Sunday it is signing former Florida Gators signal-caller Kyle Trask. The NFC South team also waived wide receiver Malick Meiga and linebacker Nick Hampton with injury designations.

Trask was previously with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after they selected him with a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

Carolina's announcement pointed out there is some familiarity in place, as he was with the Buccaneers when Panthers head coach Dave Canales and Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik were also with the team.

Trask has never started an NFL game and saw limited action during his time with the Buccaneers.

From 2022 through 2024, he saw the field in seven different regular-season games and threw a grand total of 11 passes. He completed just four of them for 28 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions.

As a result, he is still best known for his time with the Gators.

Trask finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in his final collegiate season in 2020 when he completed 68.9 percent of his passes for 4,283 yards, 43 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He led Florida to an 8-4 record that season, although it started 8-1 before finishing with losses to LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma.

The loss to the Crimson Tide came in the SEC championship game.

Trask figures to remain behind Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett on the depth chart, although he gives Carolina another option after King suffered the injury despite playing the role of hero in the win over the Cardinals.

King scored on a five-yard touchdown run as time expired to give Carolina the 33-30 win.

Next up for the Panthers is a preseason showdown against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.