4 Panthers players who need to step up at Vikings in Week 12
By Dean Jones
Rasul Douglas – Carolina Panthers CB
Another prominent member of the Carolina Panthers who will be missing from the lineup is Donte Jackson. The No. 1 cornerback is being kept out again with a frustrating toe injury that became more problematic with every passing game. So as is the case with Christian McCaffrey – the former LSU standout should be ready to go after the bye week.
Rasul Douglas will once again be tasked with covering the opposition’s best wide receiver consistently. With Adam Thielen missing the game after failing to make it off the reserve/COVID-19 list in time, this will see the free-agent signing going up against rookie sensation Justin Jefferson.
The 2020 NFL Draft class was seen as the deepest wide receiver group in recent memory. Plenty of first-year wideouts have made a substantial impression this season and the Vikings might just possess the best of the bunch.
Jefferson has been nothing short of a revelation in Minnesota through their first ten games and has ensured the team doesn’t really miss the presence of Stefon Diggs after they traded him to the Buffalo Bills. This will be a stern test of Douglas’ credentials, but there is nothing to suggest he is going to be completely outmatched.
Douglas has done well, on the whole, this season, providing the Panthers with a solid cover cornerback who has made some impressive plays in big moments. He’ll need to be at the top of his game against Jefferson and there should be some helpful hints from offensive coordinator Joe Brady after he worked closely with the receiver in college.