The move came together fast. Trask worked out for the team last week, and the Panthers made it official the day after undrafted rookie Haynes King, the hero of Thursday's Hall of Fame Game, went down with a hamstring injury that's expected to sideline him for a stretch.
In corresponding moves, Carolina waived receiver Malick Meiga and outside linebacker Nick Hampton with injury designations.
A Wild Debut Set The Whole Thing In Motion
King's injury came at the tail end of one of the more entertaining Hall of Fame Games in recent memory.
The Georgia Tech product carried the ball in from five yards out on the final play to give Carolina a 33-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Canton, capping a stretch where he went 21-of-34 for 180 yards and two touchdowns after the ACC Player of the Year runner-up entered the league undrafted.
Newly signed Panthers QB Kyle Trask arriving for practice this morning.
— Danny erb (@danny_erb) August 9, 2026
Carolina added Trask to the quarterback room following the injury of Haynes King. #keeppounding pic.twitter.com/ZC4ZHtTf58
King is now considered week-to-week, and with the Panthers carrying only three quarterbacks at the time, backup Kenny Pickett had opened the game before King took over.
The Tampa Connection Made This An Easy Call
Trask's path to Carolina runs through his old organization. He spent four seasons with the Buccaneers after Tampa Bay drafted him 64th overall in 2021, playing under both Panthers head coach Dave Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik when the two were on Tampa's staff.
He was released last year and spent time on Atlanta's practice squad during the 2025 season.
A new #14 is here. Kyle Trask at his first #Panthers practice this morning. pic.twitter.com/MGp276gVSK
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) August 9, 2026
Trask's game experience remains extremely limited, with just 11 career pass attempts and appearances in seven games as a backup. But the familiarity with Carolina's coaching staff gave the Panthers a low-risk option they could plug in immediately, and he could see playing time as soon as this Saturday when the Panthers visit the Buffalo Bills.
A two-year starter at Florida, Trask was a Heisman finalist and second-team All-SEC selection in his final college season, throwing for 4,283 yards and 43 touchdowns that year alone. He'll wear No. 14 in Carolina.
