Kyle Trask is officially back in the NFL, now he has to make the most of it

A little more than a week ago, Kyle Trask tried out for the Carolina Panthers and then the former Florida Gators quarterback had to wait for the next phone call. It could be hours. It could be days or weeks. There was no guarantee it would come at all. 

But in a little more than a week, Trask got the call and signed with the Panthers, where he'll be the QB3 for at least the remainder of the preseason.

READ MORE: Former Florida QB Kyle Trask could be down to his final NFL opportunity

Kyle Trask has to show the Carolina Panthers that he belongs in the NFL

Sometimes things just happen for a reason. When Trask tried out last week, I think it was Panthers coach Dave Canales just giving a player he liked a chance to throw. Canales was Trask's former offensive coordinator when they were with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so the relationship was there.

Trask may have been brought back as a camp arm and been a candidate for the practice squad eventually? Who knows. But the Hall of Fame Game was King's chance to shine, and he shined bright enough to the point of fans thinking Kenny Pickett, who is the Panthers' designated backup, needed to take a hike.

READ MORE: Haynes King’s NFL breakout is another reason Florida fans should trust Buster Faulkner

But King's effort came at a price that now has him on the shelf for a few weeks and that was the crack in the door that Trask needed to prove that he still had something to offer in the NFL. He never got the chance in Tampa and, if we're being honest, by all accounts he didn't really deserve with the way he practiced in camp. 

Carolina provides a new opportunity. Maybe the former second-round pick has had time to reflect and see where he has to do things differently. Maybe he'll succeed in a new environment with a familiar coach that is now calling the shots.

Trask could not have asked for a better situation. Carolina has three preseason games left and an established starter, Bryce Yioung, that you don't want to take too many hits in the exhibition season. That means that Trask and Pickett will get a good percentage of the snaps in the final three games. 

Pickett, a former first-round pick for some strange reason, has never been impressive in the NFL, so there's a chance that this could really be a battle to see who hangs around after King gets healthy and slides into the backup role behind Young. 

Trask, who led the NCAA in touchdowns and was an All-SEC performer in 2020, probably didn't see himself fighting for a roster spot six years after he exhausted his eligibility at Florida. But things don't always work out like you want, but the book on Trask might not be over yet. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow