Schefter: Cardinals RB Kenyan Drake got wind knocked out vs. Panthers

Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake exited Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers with an apparent chest injury and did not return. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Drake got the wind knocked out of him and was working out Monday morning with no issue.

With Arizona down 31-14 and under four minutes left, Drake made a run to the right side and took a big hit in the chest from a Panthers defender.

Drake was on the ground and stayed there for a few minutes, removing his helmet as trainers came out to evaluate him.

After being looked at, Drake got up and jogged off the field under his own power. He left the bench area and went to the locker room with team doctors. With the game effectively out of reach, Drake did not return to the game.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury offered no postgame update on Drake but added that he did not think the running back’s injury or a leg injury that knocked left guard Justin Pugh out were serious.

Drake entered the game with 54 carries for 219 yards and a touchdown, failing so far to continue his tremendous form in 2019 after Arizona acquired him from the Miami Dolphins. Drake averaged 5.2 yards per carry for the Cardinals in eight games last season, and in the first three games for 2020 was at 4.1.

That number dropped to 3.8 after Sunday’s game, as Drake had 13 carries for only 35 yards.

Arizona lost 31-21.

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