Training camp brawl: Patriots, Panthers scrap spills into stands, fan suffers injury

Training camp brawls have become a daily event during the New England Patriots joint practice with the Carolina Panthers. The latest kerfuffle spilled into the stands, and a fan suffered a minor injury.

A woman in the stands who was landed on was hit in the foot by a helmet, Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston reported. “She refused medical attention. The Patriots and their medical team were there quickly to make sure she was ok. She was offered tickets to a game later this year.”

The initial incident reportedly happened after Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey got tackled and apparently took exception to the hit. He fired the ball at a Patriots player and fighting ensued. Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard and Patriots defensive lineman Deatrich Wise were both ejected after the brawl, Pro Football Talk noted.

On the other field, reports vary as to whether Patriots returner Kristian Wilkerson went down from a non-contact injury or was laid out on a kickoff return by defensive back Kenny Robinson. Either way, Robinson stood over Wilkerson, which Patriots players took exception to and another fight began.

Wilkerson was carted off the field. For the second straight day, Robinson was ejected from practice.

O yea we got something going here pic.twitter.com/DQvgP01Yp5

— AWLSabermetrics (@awlsabermetrics) August 17, 2022

Already two fights at today at joint practices…

First one looked like it started with Kristian Wilkerson suffering what I thought was a non-contact injury. Panthers safety Kenny Robinson stood by Wilkerson prone on the turf. Robinson drew the ire of Pats, starting the fracas.

— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 17, 2022

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.