Carolina Panthers must let Christian McCaffrey rest
I’ve spoken on this before, but it’s still just as vital for the future of this team. The Carolina Panthers have to protect Christian McCaffrey.
That means no more of the 99 percent snap count of old.
The team did an okay job of that in Week 9, bringing in Chuba Hubbard and Ameer Abdullah to take some of the carries. But leaving the injury-prone face of the franchise in a game that is already lost is just a bad look if nothing else.
Yes, it has been a while since McCaffrey saw the field, but that’s all the more reason to bring him along slowly. Especially with a soft tissue injury and doing too much too soon is just begging for another problem.
He’s the star, he’s the moneymaker, the team wants him on the field as much as possible to stay relevant. I get that. But think of it this way, would you rather have a superstar for one complete season or a star for 10?
Running backs are a short-lived commodity in today’s NFL. Once the injuries start they rarely stop.
From a Week 10 perspective, another thing to consider is this. While McCaffrey has a relentless motor, just imagine what a well-rested version could do late in a game when the defense has been ground down by Hubbard.
The idea of that is a nightmare for opposing linebackers trying to cover the All-Pro.
Even if their name is Isaiah Simmons.
It’s time for the team to use the other talent on the team and have a plan that includes more than just looking for McCaffrey on almost every down.
McCaffrey is the best player on the team, but even the best need a rest from time to time.