4 big Carolina Panthers storylines to watch after the bye week
By Dean Jones
How much will Christian McCaffrey help?
Christian McCaffrey is another that has gone through his fair share of complications with injury in 2020. The running back has featured in just 3.5 games this season thanks to shoulder and ankle problems, which is a far cry from the iron man status he earned during his first three years in the league where he didn’t miss a single competitive fixture.
There is a big chance that the Carolina Panthers will have their face of the franchise back following the bye, which couldn’t come at a better time. McCaffrey’s presence in the backfield has been sorely missed and his mere presence could see the team finish the season on a positive note.
Just how much McCaffrey will help is largely dependent on the sort of workload coming his way. The Panthers were ultra-cautious with the All-Pro during his rehabilitation from a high ankle sprain and with little to play for other than respectability over the next four games, it might come with fewer touches that the former Stanford sensation is accustomed to.
Carolina could realistically win three of their last four contests providing the Saints are in a position to rest some starters in Week 17. McCaffrey is going to be a huge part of that if healthy and it would ensure the organization went into another crucial offseason period on a real high following a rollercoaster campaign.