5 Panthers players who need to step up in Year 2 with the team
By Dean Jones
Keith Kirkwood – Carolina Panthers WR
The unfortunate Keith Kirkwood was given a mulligan by the Carolina Panthers for his first season with the team after some frustrating injury concerns throughout. This saw the wide receiver turn out in just one game before finally going to the reserve/injured list for good, which made it a little surprising he was handed a one-year extension prior to free agency.
This is great for depth at one of Carolina’s strongest positions. Kirkwood is no lock to make the roster or even generate a significant number of targets thanks to other quality weapons around him, so it will be interesting to see what sort of impression the wideout can make at full health.
Kirkwood does have a year in the system now and worked with Joe Brady prior to his arrival in Carolina during their time together on the New Orleans Saints. He is a solid pass-catcher who runs routes smoothly, but considering the Panthers have D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, David Moore, and second-round pick Terrace Marshall Jr. available, the task awaiting the former Temple star cannot be understated.
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Matt Rhule thinks a lot of Kirkwood and had the benefit of bringing him along in college with the Owls. However, his reliance on ex-college players has been met with mixed success so far and it remains to be seen just what category the receiver will find himself in by the end of the campaign.