4 moves the Carolina Panthers should have made sooner

Starting Jermaine Carter

Jermaine Carter‘s eye-catching performance from a starting role at inside linebacker makes the decision not to put him into the lineup sooner as bizarre, to put it mildly. The Carolina Panthers haven’t gotten anything in the way of solid production out of free-agent signing Tahir Whitehead, who became a real weak link that cost the team in crucial moments in almost every game.

Carter’s presence at the second level instantly made the group better. His energy to be around the ball consistently was there for all to see and it would be a huge shock if this didn’t result in the starting job for the remainder of 2020 and possibly beyond if the former fifth-round pick continues to impress.

Things were never going to be easy in this particular area of the field after Luke Kuechly called it a day after eight sensational seasons in Carolina. Whitehead’s dismal lack of production has only heightened this worry and Carter needs to keep up this level of commitment to the cause after finally getting the opportunity to prove himself.

Just what was holding Carter back for over half the campaign is unclear. Whether the coaching staff weren’t too keen on him or not is a moot point at this juncture and it would be a cause for outrage of Whitehead ever secured another start in Carolina barring injuries to other personnel.