4 crucial matchups to watch during Panthers at Cardinals in Week 10

Christian McCaffrey vs. Carolina Panthers coaching Staff

All-Pro Christian McCaffrey made his much-anticipated return to the field in Week 9 and reminded everyone just how good he can be.

While a stat line of just over 100 scrimmage yards seems a bit disappointing when put against the usual numbers that McCaffrey puts up, Sam Darnold didn’t have a particularly good day and the running back was kept off the field more often as a precaution against further injury.

However, in those more limited opportunities, McCaffrey was constantly open and made the defense pay for poor angles that wouldn’t necessarily be the case against any other player.

That’s the problem.

We can all understand wanting to use your best asset as much as possible, especially when the team is struggling. But at this point in the season, the Carolina Panthers shouldn’t do anything to risk McCaffrey’s future.

The running back still being in the game when the result was already decided is something that should never happen in the NFL. Period.

You protect your star players with everything you have.

Sometimes that means protecting them against themselves. McCaffrey is definitely the type to want to be out there for every snap and the coaching staff has been more than willing to cater to that desire. But at some point, both sides have to wake up and realize what that way of thinking is doing to the young man.

Destroying your body in a lost game or even worse a lost season means nothing. But having Cam Newton back should help McCaffrey moving forward and even as soon as this Sunday in specific packages.

Everyone wants to see McCaffrey out there, but we also want to see him for years to come and the Panthers need to start planning for the future.