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It took only one practice for Matt Moore's deep leg bruise to devolve into a fractured fibula.
While throwing in practice Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers' backup quarterback felt a pop in the area of his left leg that was injured six days earlier in the team's exhibition finale in Pittsburgh.
General manager Marty Hurney said two x-rays and an MRI taken after the injury first occurred last week were negative, but that an x-ray after Wednesday's practice showed the fracture.
Based on the original test results, Hurney said he did not think Moore was allowed to return to throwing too soon.
“We thought he'd be ready,” said Hurney.
“Obviously, we want to get him well and then get him back.”
Hurney said Moore would not be placed on injured reserve and that the status of his return was “week to week.”
According to a source close to the situation, Moore is expected to be out four to six weeks and is wearing a walking cast.
The good news is that the fibula is not the weight-bearing part of the leg.
Moore entered training camp as the Panthers' No.2 quarterback, but probably fell to third on the depth chart when the team acquired veteran Josh McCown from Miami last Friday in exchange for a seventh-round pick.
McCown's arrival resulted in the Panthers waiving quarterback Brett Basanez, but he was re-signed to the practice squad Wednesday.
To make room for Basanez, the Panthers released defensive end Angelo Craig.
Hurney said Basanez is “a perfect fit for us.”
Basanez would have to be signed to the active roster before he could appear in games.
Moore's injury occurred late in the third period of the Panthers' 19-16 loss in Pittsburgh when Steelers' safety Anthony Smith hit him low on a sack.
Moore, 24, is a promising young prospect who had a 2-1 record as a starter for the Panthers last season, but he struggled during the preseason. He didn't lead Carolina to a touchdown in four exhibition appearances.
Moore completed 63 of 111 passes (56.8 percent) last season for 730 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.
This preseason, he was 35 of 65 (53.8 percent) for 389 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions.
