Christian McCaffrey scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter Sunday to get his Panthers within a score, but it came at a cost.
McCaffrey suffered an ankle injury on the play and did not return to Carolina's 31-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCaffrey will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his injury, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Rapoport adds there is initial hope it is not too serious, but Monday will be telling.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule was unable to provide an update after the game on the severity of McCaffrey's condition.
The running back scored on a toss around the left end on fourth and 2 to cut the Buccaneers' lead to 21-14 and keep Carolina in the game, but limped off the field afterward. The ankle ailment required a re-taping of his ankle while his teammates returned to the field for another possession, which ended up being fruitless.
McCaffrey rushed 18 times for 59 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 19 yards before exiting. Mike Davis replaced McCaffrey at running back in the final quarter.
