Carolina Panthers: Reggie Bonnafon makes the most of opportunity
The running back played an important role for the Carolina Panthers.
There were many great stories from the Carolina Panthers win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. One of them included a running back. Sure, the case could be made that Christian McCaffrey was the best player on the field Sunday. However, it was Reggie Bonnafon who made an impact that nobody expected.
You have to remember that he was a player who went undrafted in the 2018 draft. I remember writing about him, and I didn’t I think he was going to amount to much. He had a decent career at the collegiate level, but nothing spectacular. I was really hoping he would make the roster and find a position. Well, it appears he has found one indeed. Running back was the position he made the biggest impact at on Sunday.
He rushed the ball five times for 80 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. He put together a wonderful complimentary performance to McCaffrey. It was nice to see the Carolina Panthers have a one-two punch at the running back position. That is not something the Carolina Panthers had last season. The real question will be to see whether the Panthers captured lightning in a bottle on Sunday. Whatever the case may be, there is no denying Bonnafon’s performance had an impact on the game.
Furthermore, it was a good story for the Carolina Panthers. You have a player who went undrafted, couldn’t find a position initially in the National Football League, and is now making an impact at the professional level. He ran the ball with purpose, and he looked confident when he ran. His performance on Sunday was symbolic of the entire offensive unit over the past couple of weeks. Players who wouldn’t normally get an opportunity to shine finally have shown what they are made of.
That is especially the case for Bonnafon. He used to be a college quarterback, and worked his way up from the Carolina Panthers practice squad. He made the most of his opportunities, and he shone brightly during the preseason. Even with his big performance on Sunday, he was rather succinct in his responses to the media.
"“Feels good to get a win,” Bonnafon said, “and feels even better to contribute to it.”"
It also feels good to know that if Christian McCaffrey ever goes down like he did in the third quarter, the Panthers have someone they can trust to put out there. Reggie Bonnafon may not be a star that makes headlines every single game, but he certainly has an important role on the Carolina Panthers. He showed that on Sunday.