Carolina Panthers: Will Grier first start expectations

What can fans expect from Carolina Panthers quarterback, Will Grier, on Sunday?

After sitting for a majority of his rookie season, the Carolina Panthers have seemingly been forced to play Will Grier. Drafted in the third-round this past spring, the Charlotte native received some snaps during preseason play but wasn’t expected to be a major factor until after Cam Newton was placed on injured reserve – then his chances increased.

However, coach Ron Rivera was reluctant to displace backup Kyle Allen who initially won five of his first six games in 2019, despite inconsistent performances. Eventually, the turnovers began to pile up as Allen and the Panthers dropped four in a row leading to Rivera being fired.

Interim coach Perry Fewell stuck with Allen for his first two games at the helm, both losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks including five more interceptions and three additional fumbles from Allen. Though Fewell said both quarterbacks would be evaluated this week, it is expected that Grier makes his debut on Sunday in Indianapolis.

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With the future of the Panthers franchise at stake, doing so will give coaches and fans an opportunity to evaluate Grier in regular season action. While two games won’t provide an all-encompassing look at exactly what Carolina has in their rookie quarterback, it should reveal some indication.

Arm strength and decision making will be two key factors to keep an eye on as the game unfolds. Given the current state of the Panthers offensive line, it is expected that Grier will be under pressure at times and his ability to pass the ball off on secondary options, throw it away or scramble for some yardage will be seen.

In addition, how Grier commands the huddle when Carolina has the football as the offense appears to either be in sync or discombobulated will also fall on Grier. He’ll get a pass given the recent coaching change and shift in play calling responsibilities but how much, if any, Grier has improved from his lackluster preseason performances will also point to his development potential.

Neither the Panthers or Colts have anything to gain or lose dependent upon the outcome, except for 2020 draft positioning, so Grier shouldn’t feel too much pressure other than wanting to make a good showing for himself and proving he belongs in the league. That said, his performance could help Carolina make a decision on Allen’s future provided they are planning to bring back Newton for the final year of his contract.

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Final Stat Line Prediction: 19 of 27, 177 yards, TD, INT

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