4 major factors that could hamper Sam Darnold’s production in 2021
By Dean Jones
Injuries to key players
This is something that’s out of Sam Darnold and the Carolina Panthers’ control. But it’s still something that could provide a huge stumbling block next season if bad fortune strikes the organization.
Injuries are all part of the business in the NFL. No team goes through the campaign with a clean bill of health given how physical the game is.
What the Panthers will be hoping for is their key men staying on the field for a prolonged period of time. Especially the primary offensive playmakers who can make things a lot easier for Darnold.
Not having Christian McCaffrey for 13 games last season hurt Carolina. Especially when things came down to one play here or there in critical moments that the team came out on the losing end of more often than not.
If the same happens to the All-Pro this time around, Darnold is going to have a hard time and it’s vital the Panthers take some pressure off their face of the franchise to maximize not only his production – but also the player’s availability.
Darnold needs every good weapon on the Panthers fit and firing on all cylinders. It’s unrealistic to expect everybody to play a full 17-game season, but if the large majority can stay injury-free it’s going to do his chances of reigniting his career in Carolina the world of good.