CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers wide receiver Chris Brazzell’s rookie season is over before it ever had a chance to begin.
The Panthers announced Thursday that the third-round pick from Tennessee will undergo season-ending surgery on the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) of his left knee and be placed on injured reserve.
Brazzell was carted off the field Wednesday after he was injured during seven-on-seven drills and was expected to miss up to eight weeks following the original diagnosis.
However, after receiving a second medical opinion Brazzell has decided to undergo season-ending surgery.
He had been impressive early in a training camp and looked poised to battle with 2024 first-round draft pick Xavier Legette for the team's No. 3 wide receiver spot behind starters Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.
Brazzell ran a 4.37-second, 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine in February and was expected to add a deep threat to the offense. He had 62 catches for 1,017 yards — an average of 16.4 yards per reception — and nine touchdowns last season for the Volunteers.
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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (19) works out during the NFL football team's training camp Thursday, July 23, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
MILAN (AP) — Franco Baresi, the former AC Milan defender and World Cup winner with Italy, has died. He was 66.
His death was announced on Friday by Milan, the soccer club where he spent his entire 20-year playing career. No cause of death was given.
"The entire history of AC Milan is in tears," Milan said.
In August 2025, Baresi underwent surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule and subsequently began a course of immunotherapy.
His last public appearance was at the opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February, when along with former Inter Milan defender Giuseppe Bergomi, he carried the torch into the San Siro — the stadium he formerly played in.
“Announcing the loss of someone who embodied the heart and soul of AC Milan, is incredibly difficult,” the club said. "But everyone at the club and all the Milanisti must live up to Franco Baresi’s memory. We must be strong and gather every bit of energy, even at this saddest of times.
“His example and integrity will be forever etched into the Club’s DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is,” Milan added. “The condolences AC Milan extends to Franco Baresi’s family at such a difficult time are shared by every Rossonero, who feels this loss as their own.”
Baresi, who was widely regarded as one of the best defenders of all time, was a true one-club player. He progressed through the ranks at Milan and made his first team debut at the age of 17, in April 1978.
He chose to stay with Milan even after it was relegated to Serie B — for the second time in three seasons — in 1982, just before he helped Italy win the World Cup that summer, and was given the captaincy at the age of just 22.
Baresi made more than 700 appearances for the Rossoneri, captaining the team to global dominance in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
With Milan, Baresi won three Champions League trophies, six Serie A titles, two Intercontinental Cups, three European Supercups and four Italian Supercups.
As well as the 1982 World Cup, Baresi also helped Italy finish runners-up in the 1994 competition — although he was one of three Azzurri players to miss a penalty in the shootout defeat to Brazil in the final.
Baresi finished runner-up to teammate Marco van Basten in the Ballon d’Or awards in 1989.
When Baresi retired in 1997, Milan also retired his No. 6 jersey — which was a first for Italian soccer. The club also held a celebration match in his honor, featuring many soccer stars Baresi had played with and against.
Baresi was made honorary president of Milan in 2020.
It could have all been so different for Baresi and Milan, however. Baresi had trials at Inter when he was younger but he was rejected by the Nerazzurri, who opted to sign his older brother Giuseppe Baresi, with Franco Baresi going on to join the youth team of their fierce city rivals.
Giuseppe also captained his team and the image of the two Baresi brothers exchanging pennants before kickoff became the symbol of the Milan derby throughout the late 80s.
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FILE - AC Milan former player Franco Baresi arrives to attend the 'Foundation Milan' charity Italy, on Nov. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
FILE - Former AC Milan player Franco Baresi poses before presentation of the 2018/19 Serie A calendar in Milan, Italy, on July 26, 2018. (AP Photo /Luca Bruno, File)
FILE - Milan's veteran Franco Baresi escapes Juventus player Angelo Di Livio and Christian Vieri during a First Division soccer match in Turin on Nov. 17, 1996. (AP Photo/Mauro Pilone, File)
