5 unsung heroes from Carolina Panthers win at the Cardinals in Week 10
By Dean Jones
Pat Elflein – Carolina Panthers OL
We’ve bashed Pat Elflein plenty this season, and for good reason. The offensive lineman’s production wasn’t up to the required standard before he went to the reserve/injured list, leaving the Carolina Panthers’ decision to give him a two-year deal on Day 1 of free agency one of their most bizarre under the new regime.
However, there might be some light at the end of the tunnel.
With Matt Paradis ruled out for the season with a torn ACL, the Panthers opted to shift Elflein back to the center spot. This is a position he occupied both at Ohio State in college and during his first NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings before they decide to switch him after drafting Garrett Bradbury.
Things haven’t gone according to plan for Elflein ever since. But he looked much more comfortable in Week 10 and provided Carolina with an assured presence outside of one early miscommunication with quarterback P.J. Walker that almost led to a fumble.
This was encouraging for Elflein and the Panthers.
Paradis is out of contract this spring, although he’s still making north of $9 million next season as part of a restructure. If Elflein performs to this standard between now and the end of the campaign it could see the lineman win the starting center job in 2022.