Austin Corbett won’t return to Carolina in 2026.
The veteran lineman reached a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday. The transaction will end a four-season run for Corbett with the Panthers.
Offensive lineman Austin Corbett, center, wins the Carolina Panthers Community Impact Player of the Year Award during the Charlotte Touchdown Club’s 2025 Bronko Nagurski Awards program on Dec. 8, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Corbett, 30, had an up-and-down tenure in Charlotte. After signing a three-year deal with the Panthers in 2022, Corbett had arguably his most productive NFL campaign at right guard. However, he sustained a torn ACL during the 2022 season finale against the New Orleans Saints. He missed the first six games of the 2023 season before sustaining another knee injury a few weeks later.
After playing in just four games in 2023, Corbett was moved to center in 2024. During Dave Canales’ first season with the Panthers, Corbett started five games before suffering a season-ending biceps injury.
He returned in 2025 on a one-year deal and won the starting center competition coming out of training camp. However, he injured his MCL and lost his starting job to Cade Mays, who previously filled in for him in 2024. Corbett returned from injured reserve during the second half of the season and spent the rest of the year moving between center, left guard and right guard in the starting lineup.
He was used as a reserve in the team’s playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams in January.
Panthers center Austin Corbett warms up before their game against the Bills on Oct. 26, 2025. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com Austin Corbett’s free agency takes him to Buffalo
Corbett appeared in 39 games (37 starts) during his time with the Panthers. The veteran previously split his first four seasons between Cleveland and Los Angeles, as he won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams prior to joining Carolina.
In Buffalo, Corbett is likely to compete for playing time at guard and center. Given his versatility, he could be a jack-of-all-trades backup for the Bills on the line.
Corbett is among the four former starters who have left Carolina in free agency this month. Mays and outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum joined the Detroit Lions, while running back Rico Dowdle signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Panthers named Corbett as their 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year honoree this past season. Corbett’s charitable efforts with food insecurity and military members earned him the honor.
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Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription