4 Carolina Panthers players facing boom or bust seasons in 2022
By Dean Jones
Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers RB
This has nothing to do with Christian McCaffrey‘s production, which remains elite. But if the running back suffers another injury-hit campaign, the doubts surrounding his long-term future will grow to levels not seen before.
The Carolina Panthers remain intent on telling anyone who’ll listen that McCaffrey’s usage won’t be altered despite the former first-round pick turning out just 10 times since Matt Rhule took over as head coach. But in truth, something has to give due to his importance and how the team collapsed without their best offensive weapon.
Carolina proceeded with extreme caution throughout camp where McCaffrey was concerned. The Stanford product also sat out their warmup game at the Washington Commanders – a trend that’s likely to continue over the Panthers’ remaining preseason engagements.
Risking McCaffrey when there’s no need isn’t smart. What’s equally as important for the Panthers and the player is coming up with a solution that keeps him fresh and firing from start to finish.
Although the Panthers have plenty of talent on offense and should boast better protection for McCaffrey and Baker Mayfield, this is a situation with no margin for error. The All-Pro remains the focal point, but further complications on the health front could bring severe consequences.