5 bold predictions for the Carolina Panthers vs. Eagles in Week 5
By Brian Lane
Carolina Panthers CB C.J. Henderson gets his first interception
C.J. Henderson was acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars just over a week ago and was given just six days and three practices to prepare for his Carolina Panthers debut against the Cowboys.
Henderson was active on Sunday and contributed eight solo tackles on 30 percent of the defensive snaps.
With more familiarity with Phil Snow’s defense, Henderson’s snap counts will only increase. With the injury to 2021 first-round pick, Jaycee Horn, and the uncertainty on his return, the Florida product’s role should expand.
Henderson isn’t even the newest corner to join the Panthers defense thanks to general manager Scott Fittereracquiring of 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. But he won’t be available until Week 7 at the earliest.
The former first-round pick had a total of one interception in his short stint with the Jaguars. But the Carolina defense is very aggressive in the sense that they apply a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks from all three levels.
This speeds up a signal-caller’s mental clock, usually resulting in rushed decisions and bad throws. I see Henderson taking advantage of this with his aggressive coverage skills and coming away with his first of hopefully many picks in a Panthers uniform.