Wide receiver Stephen Hill's attempt of making a comeback was cut short Saturday after suffering a leg injury while participating in the Carolina Panthers' training camp. Hill was carted off the field and was later diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
The 24-year-old player is expected to miss the entire season, according to Panthers assistant head coach Steve Wilks Sunday, the same day the team waived Hill.
In a report by ESPN, Hill sustained the injury while trying to make a catch during afternoon practice and was screaming in pain after a wrong landing.
Trainers attended to him and taped his knee before he was carried off the field, ESPN added.
Hill spent his first two seasons with the New York Jets, the team that selected him in the second-round of the 2012 National Football League (NFL) Draft.
Unfortunately, he was unable to perform impressively with the Jets, only having 45 receptions for a total of 594 yards with four touchdowns.
Hill was released by the Jets in August last year. The Panthers then claimed him through waivers, adding him to their practice squad in September 2014.
The cornerback out of Georgia Tech has been trying to get a roster spot with the Panthers and did an impressive job during offseason workouts and minicamp; although last Tuesday, he was given a citation for drug (marijuana) paraphernalia possession.
Before getting waived, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said the arrest will not be a factor in evaluating Hill's performance.
"It doesn't affect it. I know the situation and circumstances, which we will let play out, see how things go. He'll have to deal with that process and we'll react to what happens," Rivera said according to ESPN.
Unfortunately, Hill did not even need to get his performance assessed since he will not be making the cut because of the injury.
