CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Umpire Carl Paganelli will not return to Sunday’s game between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers after injuring his leg 45 seconds into the first quarter.
After the Panthers went three and out on the first series, Paganelli — an official since 1999 — bumped into a Tampa Bay player as he was trying to catch a ball being thrown in from the sideline to be spotted and immediately went down. He did not get up and appeared to be holding his lower leg.
The officials have gone to six officials on the field, instead of the normal seven.
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Steve Reed, The Associated Press
