4 replacements if Panthers lose Christian McCaffrey to injury
By Dean Jones
What are the options available to the Carolina Panthers if they lose star running back Christian McCaffrey to injury in 2020?
Not much is expected of the Carolina Panthers next season. They go into the campaign with a revamped roster and a coaching staff that is devoid of any experience in the NFL. So their backs are well and truly against the wall.
A significantly disrupted offseason is another hurdle the Carolina Panthers need to overcome if they want to prove the doubters wrong in 2020. That might be easier said than done. But the roster is full of talented players that can make a real difference to keep them competitive.
One player with more responsibility on his shoulders than most is Christian McCaffrey. He is the new face of the franchise after the Panthers decided to part ways with quarterback Cam Newton this offseason. And giving the All-Pro a four-year, $64 million contract extension was another strong indication of just how much faith the organization has in their dynamic weapon.
McCaffrey totaled more than 400 combined touches in 2019. And this is a trend that cannot continue if they want to get the most of him from a production perspective throughout his new deal.
The former first-round pick has been incredibly durable during his career. And this is even more extraordinary when one considers this was one of the only areas of concern regarding McCaffrey before entering the NFL.
Instead, the best dual-threat back in the league hasn’t missed a game over three seasons. But if he were to go down with a serious injury next season, then Carolina needs to have a contingency plan in place.
Running back is one of the more violent positions on the field. So the chance of McCaffrey getting hurt is undoubtedly heightened with the number of touches he is allocated.
Here are possible options if the worst-case scenario happens and McCaffrey goes down with a long-term problem.