Carolina Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin was carted off the practice field Wednesday morning after suffering a left knee injury.

In the first of two joint practices against the Miami Dolphins, Benjamin was matched up against safety Reshad Jones. When Benjamin went to cut outside, his left leg twisted awkwardly in the turf. He immediately fell to the ground and grabbed his left knee.

“He went to plant and make a swim move and without any contact just kind of went down, so it was unfortunate,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said after practice. “It’s one of those things that could have happened in any drill. It’s unfortunate it happened then.

“The early word is that it’s a sprain as of right now. They’re going to take him up to get an MRI.”

With Benjamin on his way to Charlotte for an MRI and Rivera holding out hope for positive news, multiple sources told BBR the Panthers aren’t as optimistic internally.

After trainers attended to Benjamin, quarterback Cam Newton helped load his friend onto the cart before he rode off with tears in his eyes.

“Cam was right there with his teammate telling him he’s going to be okay, and we’ll hold the fort down until you’re ready to get back up,” Rivera said.

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