4 replacements if Panthers lose Christian McCaffrey to injury

Carolina Panthers Option No. 4: Give Jordan Scarlett a shot

The Carolina Panthers have slim hopes of achieving a winning record in 2020. There would be no chance of this occurring if they lost such an influential figure as Christian McCaffrey to injury.

New head coach Matt Rhule would have nothing to lose by giving an unproven player a shot at the No. 1 running back spot to see what they could do on the field. Jordan Scarlett is someone who would relish this opportunity. And it is an option worth considering in this situation.

Scarlett was used sparingly during his rookie campaign. And it remains to be seen whether this is a trend that will turn around in 2020.

There is a chance he can impress the coaching staff enough to rise-up the depth chart. But not having a preseason schedule to catch the eye will impact the former Florida star more than most.

If the Panthers throw Scarlett into the mix and he fails to deliver, so what? Their situation would be bleak enough without McCaffrey. So knowing that they couldn’t rely on the 2019 fifth-round pick going forward would be extra knowledge to take with them into another crucial offseason period in 2021.

Scarlett put together some impressive college stats that resulted in 1,846 yards, 12 touchdowns, 15 receptions, and 108 receiving yards over a three-year stint with the Gators. It is hard to gauge just what his prospects of forging a successful NFL career are at this stage. And the best way to find out is by giving the player a shot in a more prominent role.