Could Rodney Smith see an increased role in Week 11 and beyond?
By Dean Jones
Smith’s future with the Carolina Panthers
There are plenty of players on the Carolina Panthers who are fighting for their futures, and Rodney Smith is also on that particular list. That is to be expected with an undrafted rookie who only recently received his shot and if the coaching staff does decide to give him more game time in the coming weeks, it is essential the player makes the most out of every carry.
He did get off to an eye-catching start against the Buccaneers. But he’ll have to show a level of consistency to prove his worth as a viable option behind Christian McCaffrey in 2021 and possibly beyond.
There is every chance that Mike Davis, Reggie Bonnafon, and Trenton Cannon might not be around next season. All three players are out of contract and depending on what sort of interest they generate on the free-agent market, Carolina might be forced to explore different avenues at a position that has become increasingly important due to McCaffrey’s injury struggles this season.
If Smith can showcase his talents in a positive manner and show development in his skill set between now and the season’s conclusion. Then it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Panthers kept him around.
Carolina has shown a willingness to go much younger during a substantial rebuild in recent months and they might just have a real gem in Smith providing he gets the chance to shine and build on an encouraging start to life at the next level.