4 ways the Panthers can win without Christian McCaffrey in 2022
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers must lean heavily on D’Onta Foreman
Chuba Hubbard filled in admirably for Christian McCaffrey last season. It was a lot to ask of the fourth-round pick, but despite flashing on occasions there were some major struggles in certain areas that must be addressed as a matter of urgency this summer.
Generating yards after contact was a problem for Hubbard during his rookie campaign. The former Oklahoma State star was also non-existent in pass protection and couldn’t make any sort of impression in the passing game, which hurt his stock along the way.
The Carolina Panthers found themselves another bell-cow this offseason with the intriguing pickup of D’Onta Foreman from the Tennessee Titans in free agency. His production filling in for Derrick Henry last time around was superb and if the worst happens to McCaffrey, this is a role the Texas product could be tasked with once again.
Foreman should see plenty of carries even if McCaffrey is healthy. The Panthers cannot afford to give their No. 1 running back north of 35 combined touches a game anymore, so the backup might provide a nice relief and especially in between the tackles to minimize the risk of injuries.
Obviously, asking Foreman to replicate what McCaffrey brings to the table is unrealistic. However, if he used in a similar way to Mike Davis in 2020, then the Panthers might be onto something.