5 Panthers who disappointed at Patriots in preseason Week 2 loss

Keith Taylor Jr. – Carolina Panthers CB

It wasn’t the best return for Keith Taylor Jr. in this one. The former Washington standout had missed the past couple of weeks with a hamstring injury picked up down at Wofford College during the Carolina Panthers training camp, which halted a tremendous start to his time in Spartanburg.

He made his return against the New England Patriots and understandably struggled. Taylor was for the most part going up against Bill Belichick’s first string unit, covering DeVante Parker and Nelson Agholor, so it was always going to be a difficult return after so much inactivity of late.

With starters Jaycee Horn, Donte Jackson, and C.J Henderson all resting, it meant that Taylor found himself as CB1 – a role which he found himself in last season when injuries meant the Panthers were thin at corner.

This came with some complications. Most notably, when Taylor was beaten on a deep bomb from Mac Jones that fell perfectly for Agholor. But this was probably down to rust rather than the 2021 fifth-round selection’s overall talent.

There’s no danger of Taylor not making the roster. Once the season kicks off he’ll find himself probably as the CB4 on the roster, meaning it’ll be highly unlikely the second-year-pro finds himself covering top-level wide receivers unless injuries strike.