Injuries are starting to pile up in the 2015 National Football League (NFL) preseason and Carolina Panthers defensive end Frank Alexander joins an already long list of players who have been hurt even though they new seasons has yet to begin.
Last Saturday, Alexander tore his Achilles in the fourth play of their second preseason game against the Miami Dolphins which they won 31–30.
According to NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk, the 25-year-old defensive end hobbled and was not putting weight on his right leg when he suffered the injury as he was helped to the sidelines.
Alexander, who was carted off the field, said he will be undergoing surgery Tuesday.
The fourth-round pick by Carolina in 2012 also shared that he felt someone step on his right leg while he was stepping back but when he checked nobody was behind him.
Despite the injury, Alexander remains optimistic and, according to ESPN, called the incident "a little bump in the road."
"I know God still has a plan for me. My faith is still high. I'm not turning my back on God or anything. I'm going to still stay positive and focused," Alexander also said.
The injury is a huge setback for Alexander as he was looking for a comeback in the 2015 season after being suspended 14 games last season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
In a report by ESPN, defensive end Kon Ealy is a likely replacement for Alexander; or the Panthers might opt for the same scheme that they applied last year when Alexander was out because of the suspension.
In the 2014 season, the Panthers had Ealy with fellow defensive ends Mario Addison and Wes Horton taking the role of Alexander.
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera praised the three for their improved game against the Dolphins but added that losing Alexander is a "tough one" since he was having a great training camp.
