Carolina Panthers patience wearing thin with Terrace Marshall Jr.?

Could there be some growing friction between the Carolina Panthers and second-year wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr.?

The Carolina Panthers are placing some high demands on Terrace Marshall Jr. in 2022. His ineffective rookie campaign wasn’t what many expected of the second-round selection, who found life extremely difficult coming up against NFL-caliber cornerbacks en route to just 17 receptions for 138 receiving yards throughout the season.

Marshall has the physical attributes to become a real force. Simply put, the Panthers didn’t draft him at No. 59 overall to be a development project.

Things just haven’t come together for the LSU product just yet. Although there were signs of life in training camp that only whet the appetite further about what Marshall could bring to an offense that is expected to be much better with new coordinator Ben McAdoo calling the shots.

One thing that’s blighted Marshall’s time in the league is injuries. This was a question mark coming out of college and reared its ugly head once again this week.

Carolina Panthers lay down the gauntlet to Terrace Marshall Jr.

The wideout participated in Monday’s session but missed the rest of the week. Something that clearly frustrated Matt Rhule when asked about Marshall following Carolina’s defeat at the New England Patriots in preseason Week 2.

"“There isn’t really a plan (for Marshall). He practices on Monday and finished it but was sore the next day and felt he couldn’t go. We thought he could go today, the medical staff worked on it but they couldn’t get him ready. We need Terrace to start practicing. We need him to step up. Shi (Smith)’s had a great camp, (Rashard) Higgins had a great camp. (Brandon) Zylstra’s out with a hamstring, so we need him to step up because he was having a great camp until he got hurt.”"

https://twitter.com/DuncOnDemand/status/1560818362493583361

This is laying down the gauntlet to Marshall in no uncertain terms. Patience is obviously wearing thin with a player that has undeniable physical attributes but is having his development impacted severely at such a crucial time.

Carolina’s wide receiver room looks pretty crowded. A number of fringe stars have made notable strides throughout the summer, so Marshall might have his work cut out generating targets once again if those in power feel like he cannot be depended upon.

There is absolutely no chance Marshall doesn’t make the 53. The Panthers have too much invested in the player for that.

But they also have enough in the way of reliable options to make him an afterthought once again if Marshall cannot put a consistent run of games together.

Considering the players Carolina ignored in favor of trading down and then acquiring Marshall, the primary decision-makers need this draft pick to work out. But in all honesty, the jury is still out until the receiver proves otherwise.

This is a challenge Marshall must tackle head-on. Anything less could have grave implications for the player and the Panthers during a pivotal 2022 season for the franchise.

Hopefully, Marshall can get back and reestablish himself as the team’s No. 3 wide receiver option behind D.J. Moore and Robbie Anderson. But it’s clear there is a growing sense of frustration about his stop-start participation.

Yet another important storyline to keep a close eye on in the coming weeks.