Panthers: Team has worst backup QB situation in NFL per Sports Illustrated

TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Kyle Allen #10 of the Houston Cougars warms up for the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Kyle Allen #10 of the Houston Cougars warms up for the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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Per Sports Illustrated, the Carolina Panthers have the worst backup quarterbacks in the NFL…

Maybe the Carolina Panthers are not firing on all cylinders. It appears the team has a huge hole on their roster and it is not one you would normally think of when you think of roster issues: backup quarterback.

Steve Taranto of 247Sports.com pointed to a ranking done by Nate Davis of USA Today that said the Panthers have the worst backup quarterback situation in the National Football League. While I think only time will tell on the situation, I can see why Davis put the Panthers last.

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Currently on the roster, the Carolina Panthers have Garrett Gilbert, Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen. As Taranto notes, Gilbert and Heinicke have only played in one NFL game combined. Allen is a rookie. For what it’s worth, Allen had a rocky but successful career in the collegiate ranks.

To put this into perspective, Derek Anderson, the team’s former backup quarterback had seven years of experience. He threw for 10,413 yards in his career along with 60 touchdowns. When you lose an experienced veteran like Anderson, you lose a lot of production. The Carolina Panthers can now begin to attest to that here.

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Personally, I believe there is some talent to be had at the position. I think we know what we are going to get with Gilbert, but Allen and Heinickle are different stories. They still have more potential and have not fully developed. Yes, Heinicke has more National Football League experience, but he has not gotten a fair shake at things at the professional level.

There just is not enough of a sample size to argue with Davis and quite frankly, I agree. It will be interesting to see if the backups will get playing time at any point during the season with a retooled Panthers roster and it would be great to see them do well when called upon.