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Panthers: Can new acquisition Kenjon Barner make an impact?

By Danny Jaillet

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: Kenjon Barner #38 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: Kenjon Barner #38 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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The Carolina Panthers picked up running back Kenjon Barner on Friday…

The Carolina Panthers have found their replacement for running back Fozzy Whittaker. Friday, the team signed running back Kenjon Barner to a one-year contract according to multiple reports.

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A former Panther, Barner was signed to the team on May 23, 2013. He played sparingly during his first stint in Carolina, appearing in eight games and rushing for six yards.

After being acquired by the Eagles in August of 2014, Barner would accrue slightly more production. He appeared in 37 games, rushing for 310 yards and three touchdowns during his four seasons there.

Although he may not have made his mark as a running back during his time in Philadelphia, he made up for it on special teams.  Last season, he was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 5. His efforts helped the Eagles roll over San Francisco by a 33-10 margin.

Although Barner has versatility and seems like a solid replacement for Whittaker, this signing is purely one to fill a need. This is the type of signing that will not wow anyone, but it is a necessary move. Especially on short notice, getting a player that can come in and contribute right away is important.

With the way the Carolina Panthers use their running backs, I could see Barner being used as a situational-type receiving back. He will almost need to be as that is a huge part of the team’s philosophy. It is how Christian McCaffrey made his money last year. The Panthers would be wise to try and get Barner involved in the offense early in the season. That way, he will be ready to go at a moment’s notice.

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The Carolina Panthers did a nice job of filling a hole quickly. While it is not necessarily a flashy move, Barner should be able to contribute and fill the void left by Whittaker’s injury.

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