4 key Panthers matchups to watch at the Saints in Week 7
By Dean Jones
Rasul Douglas vs. Michael Thomas
Rasul Douglas has been a tremendous addition to the Carolina Panthers. The cornerback arrived following training camp after failing to make the 53-man roster of the Philadelphia Eagles, which has come with some outstanding displays in the face of some talented passing attacks.
However, things are going to go up a notch for Douglas this weekend.
According to multiple reports, Michael Thomas is set to return for the Saints after missing a number of games through injury and suspension. Given the presence of pacey wideout Emmanuel Sanders, who should get the attention of Donte Jackson, that will leave Douglas looking to thwart the threat of arguably the NFL’s most reliable pass-catcher.
Thomas was nothing short of phenomenal in 2019, which proved to be a historic campaign for the player. He broke the single-season receptions record with 149, which resulted in 1,725 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
We haven’t seen Thomas on the field since Week 1, so there might be some rust and timing issues. If Douglas can get physical with the wideout early and build some momentum, he might just stand a chance of keeping the All-Pro relatively quiet.
This would give the Panthers a far better chance of attaining an unlikely victory. But the Saints have already proven capable of winning without their best receiver.