Panthers receive hammer blow with Christian McCaffrey injury at Texans
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey has been ruled out of the remainder of the game at the Houston Texans with a hamstring injury.
The Carolina Panthers got off to a good start at the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. But things took a sour turn in the second quarter when running back Christian McCaffrey was ruled out for the remainder of the contest with a hamstring injury.
McCaffrey seemed to pull up lame on a play midway through the half and after a brief examination in the medical tent was ruled out almost immediately according to FOX’s sideline reporter, Erin Andrews.
Christian McCaffrey’s injury is a disaster for the Carolina Panthers.
This is nothing short of a disaster for the Panthers. McCaffrey has been a huge contributor throughout the early stages of the campaign and not having him in the backfield for an extended period of time would halt Carolina’s positive momentum in no uncertain terms.
Perhaps not against a team like the Houston Texans, but when bigger challenges arise in the coming weeks.
McCaffrey only appeared in three games last season due to various injury problems. Something that hampered the team considerably en route to a 5-11 record for the second straight campaign.
Hopefully, this isn’t a tear of any kind and merely a strain that needs further treatment. Hamstring injuries normally come with an absence of several weeks and the Panthers need to form a contingency plan in case the face of the franchise is missing.
Rookie back Chuba Hubbard has struggled more often than not right out of the gate. The Panthers also have Royce Freeman on the roster to potentially call upon with more starting NFL experience.
McCaffrey is the heart and soul of the Panthers. There’s no getting away from it.
Not having him on the field completely changes the dynamic, piling more pressure on Sam Darnold and removing the security blanket he’s depended on during his transition to a different environment.
Things were almost going too well for the Panthers. All anyone associated with the organization can do now is pray for a good outcome.