Injuries have been the unfortunate story of former Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans, and even before his second pro season can start, it looks like it’s the story again. Just as NFL training camps have started, the Carolina Panthers and Fighting Irish fans are already nervous that he suffered a severe enough injury that it could impact his ability to play in the regular season.
Evans was carted away from the practice field on Tuesday morning. Per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, Evans was down on the ground for "a few minutes," having appeared to injure his left leg.
According to the Panthers’ head coach Dave Canales, the injury was to the former Notre Dame star’s ankle after it was “rolled up on.” At the moment, the NFL team is hoping that it won’t be all that serious and he’ll be able to return to the practice field soon. Of course, when it comes to these kinds of injuries, something like an ankle can become a nagging injury for weeks or even months. Still, Canales added that the medical staff remains optimistic pending a full evaluation.
The Panthers selected Evans in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Notre Dame product went on to start in 10 of his 17 regular-season appearances, amassing 19 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns. However, while he was able to stay on the field in 2025, a series of injuries plagued his playing days in South Bend.
Mitchell Evans injury gives Notre Dame football fans another scare
In 2022, Evans suffered a broken foot (fifth metatarsal) prior to the season kicking off. While he was eventually able to come back and play after the break required surgery, he was limited to appearing in eight games. The next season, Evans tore his ACL during a game against Pittsburgh, ending what was looking like a breakout season.
That led to a slow start heading into his final season in 2024, but Evans still managed to play in 16 games for the first full healthy season since his freshman year. He finished that campaign with 43 receptions for 421 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The timing of the injury could not be worse for the former Notre Dame star, who has been having a tremendous offseason for Carolina after a solid rookie campaign. It’s also quite a blow for a Panthers team that bounced back from an awful 2024 with a very respectable 2025 season.
Carolina has struggled to find consistent production from the tight end position as a pass-receiving weapon. Evans’ combination of size and athleticism offers real upside for quarterback Bryce Young heading into the 2026 NFL season.
For the former Notre Dame star and for the Panthers, here’s hoping his ankle injury is something Mitchell Evans can bounce back quickly from.
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