6 studs and duds from the Carolina Panthers’ loss vs. Broncos
By Dean Jones
Russell Okung – Carolina Panthers OT
It was a shocking performance overall from the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line. And for probably the first time this season, Russell Okung was one of the main culprits.
The veteran Pro Bowler looked sluggish on the edge and seemed to be a yard off getting off the line of scrimmage for whatever reason. It’s not as if Okung has had that much wear and tear on his body due to injury in 2020 and he was also coming off the bye week.
This made his level of production even more bemusing and there was a concern when he went off the field late with yet another knock. Okung might be living on borrowed time with the Panthers after they acquired him via a trade that sent Trai Turner to the Los Angeles Chargers and there is every chance the player might just call it a day having seen and done it all during his career.
Okung has now given up three sacks and four penalties from 406 snaps this season. The Super Bowl winner with the Denver Broncos couldn’t get one over on his old team and there were even times when they actively targeted him in pursuit of getting after Teddy Bridgewater.
If truth be told, Okung’s $13 million in base salary could be put to better use in 2021.
There has been far more good than bad where the player is concerned. But an aging left tackle who cannot be relied upon to stay healthy just isn’t the right sort of fit long-term.