During a recent Carolina Panthers training camp session in Charlotte, an unusual moment occurred during the quarterback and center exchange drill. Offensive lineman Austin Corbett lined up to take a snap, with quarterback Bryce Young serving as the center for one play.
Quarterbacks Andy Dalton, Jack Plummer, and new signee Bryce Perkins were participating in the drill when Corbett joined them at the end of the line. The switch was intended to inject some levity into the routine of camp practices.
“I was like, ‘What’s going on? OK, sure, we can do this for one play,” said quarterbacks coach Will Harriger.
Corbett explained that he and Young were simply having fun and wanted to see if anyone would notice their role reversal. Head coach Dave Canales approved of the move. “He knows, you got to be ready, keep people on their toes,” Corbett said.
The play only lasted for one snap. No defensive players were involved as they were positioned elsewhere on the field. Coach Canales remarked on Young’s experience: “Think about how many snaps he’s taken in his life,” joked Canales. “He knows a good snap.”
There was nearly a fumble on the exchange between Young and Corbett. Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik advised Corbett to “Get more pressure (on the ball). Then again, if he got more pressure, he might would’ve lifted (Young) up.”
Afterward, Young commented positively on his performance as center: “Ball stayed off the ground,” Young said with a laugh. “That’s all that matters.”
Following this brief switch-up, both players returned to their usual positions for the remainder of practice. Corbett has recently been named starting center after competing with Cade Mays for the position.
“Going to Houston with the joint practice and then having the game, we felt like those reps just kind of solidifying who’s the starter going to be with Bryce, it’s a good time to kind of transition to where he’s getting more of those reps versus split,” Canales said last Monday regarding Corbett’s appointment as starter.
“I mean, it was a really close competition, and I think Corbett just kind of brings a level of leadership that just kind of edged him out, in my opinion,” Canales added. “So, again, competition brings out the best in both guys, and I was really proud of the way that they competed.”
Despite his participation in this playful moment under center, coaches joked about Corbett’s prospects at quarterback.
“He’s not what I would call a mobile quarterback by any means,” Harriger joked.
Corbett himself acknowledged being prepared for anything unexpected during camp: “Got to be ready for anything,” he pointed out. “It’s a crazy world out there.”
