Panthers RB Matt Colburn also had another strong game, finishing with 93 yards on the ground and two scores. He rushed for a season-high 137 yards in his team’s Week 7 win and now has 388 yards on the season, which is the third-most in the league headed into Week 9.
With starter Danny Etling out for a second straight week due to a hand injury, head coach Mike Nolan continued to use a two-QB system of Bryan Lewerke and Bryce Perkins. The pair combined for 183 passing yards and two touchdowns. Perkins added another 55 yards on the ground.
The Panthers did have some bad news though, losing RB Wes Hills to a non-contact leg injury during the opening drive of the game. Hills was helped off the field, leaving his availability for Week 9 in question.
Nolan told reporters he would know more about Hills’ injury after further evaluation on Monday.
Case Cookus started at QB for Memphis, hooking up with Daewood Davis for a 65-yard touchdown on a double move on the first offensive play of the game. However, Cookus suffered what appeared to be a rib injury, and he was replaced by Josh Love. The San Jose State product finished 9 of 12 for 56 yards and one score against his former team.
The Showboats (1-7) lost their seventh straight game.
Tom Brady sighting at Ford Field
The seven-time Super Bowl champion made an appearance in the state he played in during his time in college, greeting fans and players before the start of the Panthers-Showboats game at Ford Field in Week 8.
Brady is set to make his broadcast debut as FOX Sports’ lead NFL analyst in America’s Game of the Week between the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 (Sunday, Sept. 8 at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app).
Brady will be in the broadcast both with lead FOX play-by-play voice Kevin Burkhardt.
