5 Panthers players who showed out at the Falcons in Week 5

Jeremy Chinn – Carolina Panthers OLB

You almost run out of superlatives when it comes to the level of consistency that Jeremy Chinn is showing. The stud rookie has been a breath of fresh air for the Carolina Panthers since earning the starting job at outside linebacker and his performance at the Falcons in Week 5 was another fine example of the talent he has at his disposal.

It’s hard to gauge what the Panthers’ situation at the second level would look like had it not been for the former Southern Illinois standout. Shaq Thompson has been inconsistent through five weeks, but Tahir Whitehead’s level of play has been sub-par at best and it won’t be long before Carolina explores other alternatives at the position.

The same cannot be said for Chinn, who is already an indispensable member of Phil Snow’s defense and he has the potential to be a real star in this league if he isn’t already. The No. 64 overall pick was a silent assassin in the way he went about his business on Sunday and came up with a critical pass deflection late in the game to further assist his side’s cause.

Chinn finished with nine combined tackles and six solo tackles to go along with his big play in the passing game. He is a prime candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year if this trend continues going forward and the Panthers are very fortunate to have him.