What are some big ways that running back D’Onta Foreman can help the Carolina Panthers after reportedly signing with the team to back up Christian McCaffrey?
The past two seasons haven’t been kind to the Carolina Panthers when it came to the health of their star running back Christian McCaffrey. The All-Pro has played in just 10 games since signing a huge four-year contract extension with the team two years ago and if the organization has learned one thing during that time, it’s that they need a reliable backup.
Mike Davis replaced McCaffrey in 2020 and did a solid job for a few weeks but eventually teetered off. Last season, rookie Chuba Hubbard was the main back and while he had moments, the offense struggled greatly without the Stanford product.
There is still a very slim chance the Panthers try and trade McCaffrey before the season. But at this point, that doesn’t seem likely.
Therefore, on Tuesday they reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with D’Onta Foreman, who most recently played for the Tennessee Titans and made a name for himself filling in for Derrick Henry when he was injured.
The deal is cheap and short, which can’t hurt. It does likely push Hubbard back to a third-string but gives Carolina depth at a place they’ve struggled at recently.
With that said, here are three standout traits that Foreman can bring to the Panthers in 2022.
D’Onta Foreman brings a grind mentality to the Carolina Panthers
In 2017, D’Onta Foreman was drafted out of Texas by the Houston Texans. But things didn’t go quite according to plan and he struggled to find his footing in the league.
Foreman then bounced around with the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, and Atlanta Falcons before finding himself back in Tennessee. So his career was not on the most promising trajectory all things considered.
It wasn’t until the Titans that he began to receive notoriety and proved that he wasn’t giving up hope on his NFL dreams. He took advantage of Derrick Henry’s injury to prove beyond all doubt he can be relied upon at the next level, which couldn’t have come at a better time.
By showing that, Foreman received this new contract with the Carolina Panthers and he will likely try to not slow down as he continues to prove that he deserves another deal after this season. Something he looks more than capable of based on his efforts during the previous campaign.
Having a player like Foreman who has gone through the ups and downs in the NFL should bring an urgent mentality to the Carolina locker room. Again, this will be sorely needed ahead of a crucial campaign in 2022.
D’Onta Foreman brings a ‘next man up’ mentality to the Carolina Panthers
One thing that the Carolina Panthers know they must have in a backup running back is someone who is reliable when their number is called upon. Mike Davis and Chuba Hubbard were good, but couldn’t keep the franchise in playoff contention when Christian McCaffrey went down through injury.
In D’Onta Foreman’s case, he signed with the Tennessee Titans in November 2021 when Derrick Henry suffered an injury. This was probably his final chance to stake an NFL claim and one he simply had to take advantage of.
Going from no team at all to Tennessee, the former Texas product immediately became a reliable figure that filled in perfectly in Henry’s absence, helping lead the Titans to the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Foreman had three 100-yard games during that time span and finished the season with 566 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 133 carries from nine games. He also caught nine passes for 116 receiving yards and two scores.
The fact Foreman did that with pressure on him to replace arguably the best running back in the league proves a lot. If McCaffrey were to go down with another injury this season, the spotlight wouldn’t be too big for Carolina’s new arrival.
D’Onta Foreman brings a big-play ability to the Carolina Panthers
One of the struggles that rookie Chuba Hubbard endured last year as the Carolina Panthers’ top running back is that he was unable to really ever make a huge play. He put together stats but with a lot of work.
Mike Davis was similar the year before. But not having that bruising back is also something that puts too much pressure on Christian McCaffrey, which had to change this offseason.
Even with McCaffrey healthy, D’Onta Foreman has shown the ability to make big plays in big moments. Most notably, in the divisional round of the playoffs last season, he broke away for a huge 54-yard run that helped put the Tennessee Titans in scoring position.
In November, Foreman caught a screen pass that he turned into a 40-yard play. In his nine games with the Titans last year, the player averaged 4.3 yards for every carry and 13.7 yards per reception.
That type of production will only help make the Panthers become more of a threat when Foreman is filling in for McCaffrey or even if both are used on the field at the same. So the possibilities are there for new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo when it comes to exotic plays if needed.
Carolina struggled greatly on offense last year. But with Foreman, they now have another playmaker that can help spread the offense.