Panthers waive C.J. Anderson, now have a depth problem
The Panthers have said goodbye to one of their own.
A once-promising off-season acquisition is now no longer a member of the Carolina Panthers. Running back C. J. Anderson was waived by the team on Monday per multiple media reports. The veteran played for the Denver Broncos in the 2017 campaign.
Anderson was thought to be a key veteran acquisition heading into the 2018 season. Now it appears that the team feels it is necessary to go in a different direction. General manager Marty Hurney released a statement on Monday afternoon.
"“When we signed C.J. in the spring he saw a bigger role than he has had, and honestly, at the time so did we,” general manager Marty Hurney said. “But Christian McCaffrey has taken so much of the offense and so much of the plays, we just made the decision that this was the best thing for all parties involved.”"
Per an official report from Panthers.com, Anderson recorded six snaps per game on the year. Perhaps his best contribution was a catch for a 24-yard touchdown. Other than that, he had limited opportunities in Carolina. Part of it has been the emergence of Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey has really turned the corner this season and become a do-it-all playmaker for the Panthers. Any concerns about a sophomore slump for McCaffrey should be completely erased.
Even though Anderson did not contribute much to the offense, he was at least a body that the Panthers could use for depth behind McCaffrey. Now, the Panthers only have Cameron Artis-Payne. He has seen action in only two games, and has not touched the football once. Perhaps he will have an opportunity for more touches with the release of Anderson. Especially with how Norv Turner incorporates running backs into the offense, that is a possibility.
It’s a rather disappointing end to a short-lived Panthers career. Like I said on Sunday, I thought he would have a bigger role with the team. Yes, I know he is not the fastest back in the world. However, there is no doubt that he still has some skill left in the tank. He is 27 years old and in his sixth season. For a running back, that amounts to quite a bit of mileage. With that being said, he is still a very serviceable running back, and I bet a team will pick him up soon.
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It seems as though the Panthers are tossing all of their hope to McCaffrey. With the way he has played, he deserves their trust. There is no doubt that the lack of depth is concerning and I wonder if a move for another running back will occur in the coming days. That is something that needs to happen, especially with how much McCaffrey is used.