Who are some of the Chargers players that the Carolina Panthers need to keep a close eye on during their Week 3 matchup at SoFi Stadium?
Attention is now on a long Week 3 trek for the Carolina Panthers as they head to SoFi Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Chargers.
This is going to be another stern test of their credentials, with the Chargers running the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs close last time out before eventually falling in overtime. The Carolina Panthers are now on a ten-game losing streak dating back to last season and things will need to improve substantially in the coming weeks to turn things around.
That might be easier said than done when one looks at Carolina’s schedule. Not having Christian McCaffrey leading their offense over the next month or so will further complicate matters. But this represents a chance for other players to step into the limelight in the All-Pro’s absence.
Gaining yards on the ground might be difficult against the Chargers, who boast a formidable front seven that has the potential to wreak havoc on any given down. The likes of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are able to get in the backfield at will, and the addition of experienced interior lineman Linval Joseph is another big boost for the ambitious organization.
The Panthers have their work cut out on Sunday, of that there is little doubt. Their outlook appears bleaker than ever after a disappointing loss at the Buccaneers and with McCaffrey spending time on the sidelines. But Matt Rhule is going to find out plenty about what sort of characters he has at his disposal in the coming weeks.
Let’s take a look at four Chargers players that the Panthers need to keep a close eye on in Week 3.
Austin Ekeler – RB
Austin Ekeler might be sharing time on the field with rookie running back Joshua Kelley. But the Carolina Panthers should be on high alert whenever he touches the ball.
Ekeler proved his worth as a dual-threat in his first real taste of prominent starting action in 2019. This gave the Los Angeles Chargers enough confidence to let Melvin Gordon go in free agency. But after a quiet opening display in Week 1, he looked more like his old self against the Kansas City Chiefs.
There is nothing Ekeler cannot do on the field. His low center of gravity makes him extremely elusive and he possesses a surprising ability to gain yards after contact. The player’s obvious talent in the passing game is there for all to see and this is an area where the Panthers have struggled so far this season.
Whether splitting carries with Kelley is going to hamper his overall chances of gaining career numbers in 2020 remains to be seen. It should provide Ekeler with an increased sense of urgency, at the very least, and this matchup against Carolina is one he is sure to relish.
His outstanding level of performance over the last fortnight has earned Ekeler 235 all-purpose yards and a 78.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. If the Panthers’ defense is unable to halt his momentum, it is going to be a long afternoon.
Denzel Perryman – LB
While other players on the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense gain more attention, the standout ability that Denzel Perryman brings to the table is something that should not be overlooked.
The linebacker has been at the top of his game so far this season to further enhance his overall influence on the team. Perryman is exceptional in run support and is athletic enough to help in coverage when required.
He might be something of an afterthought compared to other high-profile names on the Chargers’ defense. But Perryman has left an eye-catching impression during his time on the field this season.
The Carolina Panthers have some significant questions to answer about their ability to run the ball with Christian McCaffrey going down with an injury. Mike Davis showed plenty of promise in the passing game late on at the Bucs on his way to eight catches for 74 receiving yards. However, doing the same against the Chargers is another matter entirely.
Perryman’s production so far this season had earned the former second-round pick a lofty 86.2 grade from Pro Football Focus, which is a good start in pursuit of a lucrative long-term deal next spring. He has only been on the field for 19.2 percent of the Chargers’ defensive snaps so far and this is something that should come with a big increase as the campaign progresses.
Hunter Henry – TE
Hunter Henry has taken time to recover from a serious leg injury sustained in 2018. But the tight end has shown some real signs of life over the last fortnight.
He has returned to being a reliable catching presence across the middle and Henry has lined up plenty in the slot since the season began. The former Arkansas Razorback has collected 11 of 16 catchable balls thrown his way to record 156 receiving yards and an outstanding 79.2 grade from Pro Football Focus.
Another notable improvement that Henry has made to his overall contribution is from a blocking perspective. This is an area that has come in for some criticism throughout his career and the adjustments made by the second-round pick in 2016 has made are immediately paying off.
The Carolina Panthers have had some trouble coping with tight ends in coverage during the early portion of the campaign. They did manage to thwart the threat of Rob Gronkowski and O.J. Howard in Week 2. But neither player is up to the same sort of standard that Henry brings to the table.
Henry benefits from attention going elsewhere to the likes of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler. This gives the player plenty of space to work across the middle and if he can get onto Tahir Whitehead consistently, this will be a problem for the Panthers.
Joey Bosa – DE
Joey Bosa is one of the best pass-rushers in the business and he got paid as such this offseason with a bumper five-year, $135 million extension that included $105 million guaranteed.
Few would argue that Bosa is not worthy of such a big financial commitment. The defensive end has been revelation since entering the NFL as the No. 3 overall pick back in 2016 and his level of production in the first two weeks of the season has been nothing short of outstanding.
Bosa was a relentless force against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, giving star quarterback Patrick Mahomes a torrid time before the signal-caller eventually came through in the clutch.
This was a further indication of just what a sensational performer Bosa is. His level of consistency is exemplary and the pass-rusher has a rare ability to make others around him better.
The Carolina Panthers will be trusting right tackle Taylor Moton to keep Bosa quiet in Week 3. This is a mouth-watering matchup and one that could go a long way to determining the overall outcome.
Moton is one of the NFL’s brightest talents at the position and hasn’t put a foot wrong so far. Coming up against Bosa is his stiffest challenge to date and any mistake or lack of concentration will be punished.