5 former Carolina Panthers players who thrived elsewhere in 2021
By Dean Jones
Which former Carolina Panthers players thrived elsewhere for a multitude of different reasons during the 2021 season?
Hindsight is always a wonderful thing to have in life and when it comes to NFL personnel decision-making. The Carolina Panthers have gone through plenty of changes to their roster in recent weeks, which is down in no small part to underperforming players as well as injuries throughout a difficult two years under Matt Rhule’s tenure.
It’s always nice to keep an eye on former players to see how they get on away from the Panthers. Here are five examples of individuals who have thrived throughout the 2021 season.
Player No. 1
Eli Apple – Former Carolina Panthers CB
Eli Apple was cast aside by the Panthers in 2020 after a struggling time due to injuries that eventually came with his release due to a practice issue. The former Ohio State star has bounced around the league ever since but finally found a home with the Cincinnati Bengals, producing a surprisingly encouraging series of performances for a team that’s riding on the crest of a wave.
Apple quickly became a difference-maker on the Bengals, who secured their first playoff win for some time on Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The veteran’s road to redemption has been a nice surprise for the AFC title hopefuls and if he carries this on next weekend and possibly beyond, it could see his time with the organization extended.
Carolina let Apple go for the right reasons. But had he performed in this fashion during his time with the team, he might still be on the books.