4 big Panthers storylines to watch at the Chargers in Week 3
By Dean Jones
Can Teddy Bridgewater bounce back?
Teddy Bridgewater‘s performance at the Buccaneers was not what is expected of the quarterback, to put it mildly. His three turnovers cost the Carolina Panthers 17 points and played a leading role in their eventual demise. But it is way too soon to be writing off the free-agent signing just yet.
There are some sections of Carolina’s fanbase who would like nothing more than to see Bridgewater fall flat on his face this season.
This is down to their fierce loyalty towards former Panthers’ signal-caller Cam Newton after he left the franchise in messy circumstances this offseason. And a possible shot at getting Clemson sensation Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is another element that shouldn’t be overlooked.
That might sound a ludicrous notion, but this is where we are at with the Panthers in 2020.
Bridgewater will know more than anyone that he has to win people over with consistent production on the field. He has been a big hit with his teammates during their brief time together, but this will count for nothing if his Week 2 struggles continue throughout the campaign.
The former first-round pick has plenty on his plate going up against a formidable Chargers pass-rush that consists of the devastating tandem of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.
Carolina might be without the services of veteran left tackle Russell Okung, which would be nothing short of a disaster given the way he has started the season. The onus will be on Bridgewater to go through his reads quickly, get the ball out of his hands efficiently, and give his defense a fighting chance by controlling the clock.