The Carolina Panthers have released cornerback Eli Apple after having played in just two games.
Apple left practice early on Tuesday, as reported by Brett Jensen. The team later listed him as “did not participate” due to a hamstring injury.
“He just didn’t feel like he could go, so we sent him inside for treatment,” head coach Matt Rhule said following practice. “Sometimes it’s better just to have guys inside, getting treatment and trying to get them as close as possible.”
Carolina is already thin in the secondary with cornerback Rasul Douglas currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list and safety Juston Burris on injured reserve with a rib injury.
A hamstring is what placed Apple on the injured reserve for the first three weeks of the season.
Apple played his first full game on defense Sunday at New Orleans, when he saw 28 plays. He had four tackles.
His only other time seeing action this year came in Week 4 against Arizona, where he participated in six plays.
The former first-round pick signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Panthers in May.
