3 reasons the Carolina Panthers can beat the Vikings in Week 6
By Luke Tucker
Carolina Panthers CB Donte Jackson is coming into his own
Scott Fitterer has made a plethora of trades during his first six months as the Carolina Panthers general manager, including two moves to bolster the secondary in the past three weeks. He acquired 2020 first-round pick C.J. Henderson from the Jacksonville Jaguars and swapped a sixth-round choice with the New England Patriots for All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore nine days later.
Henderson has received limited snaps in two games since arriving in Carolina, while Gilmore is ineligible to play until next week’s matchup with the Giants after being placed on the PUP list earlier in the season.
One player in particular though has balled out during the newcomers’ transition, Donte Jackson.
Jackson has steadily improved in each of his four seasons in the NFL, and is playing perhaps the best football of his career right now. He has been on the field for nearly every defensive snap in 2021, has given up just 180 yards all season while guarding the opponents’ top wide receivers, and is allowing an opponent passer rating of 73.1.
Not to mention he is coming off of one of the best games of his career, in which he recorded six tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, and provided shutdown coverage.
Jackson will be a free agent at season’s end, and could be tough to re-sign given his recent performance. Gilmore’s contract also expires next spring, so the next three months will be huge in determining both players’ futures with the team.
Both are here now though, but only Jackson will suit up on Sunday.
The Vikings’ duo of Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson are healthy enough to play, so pass coverage will be a premium. Jackson will need to keep up his recent performance and limit their impact if the Panthers want to have any chance at stopping Kirk Cousins, who ranks in the top-10 in both passing yards and touchdowns.