5 unsung heroes from the Panthers’ victory vs. the Saints in Week 2
By Dean Jones
Dan Arnold – Carolina Panthers TE
To say Dan Arnold’s performance against the New York Jets in Week 1 was disappointing would be something of an understatement. The tight end was a relative afterthought in the team’s game plan, which left many wondering just how the Carolina Panthers were going to approach getting more from a position Greg Olsen manned so successfully for the best part of a decade.
Fortunately for Arnold and the Panthers, the free-agent signing from the Arizona Cardinals was far more active against his old team in Week 2.
Arnold provided a tremendous catching presence across the middle and came up with a couple of really promising catches in key moments. Something the Panthers will need plenty of as the campaign goes on.
The player finished with three receptions from four targets for 55 receiving yards. Not elite by any stretch of the imagination, but certainly far better than anything Carolina got from their tight ends in 2020.
If Arnold can build on this in the coming weeks and become a more influential member of the passing attack, it’s yet another dynamic weapon for Sam Darnold to call upon. His athleticism and red-zone prowess will be needed and this is a massive confidence boost for the player after an anonymous competitive debut.