5 most important Carolina Panthers players in Week 1 vs. Browns

Eddy Pineiro – Carolina Panthers K

It’s sometimes easy to forget the importance of the kicking position until you don’t have a consistent one. The Carolina Panthers learned this the hard way over the last few years and the team finally found their guy in Zane Gonzalez, who was flawless in 2021 and deservedly got a new deal.

Disaster struck thanks to a second groin injury for Gonzalez in as many years, which occurred while warming up against the Buffalo Bills and ruling him out for the season. This left the Panthers scrambling for a quick fix at the position, something that has become all too familiar.

Eddy Pineiro is that guy and the former New York Jet has been relatively consistent over his two seasons, racking up a career 86 percent field goal percentage. Something the Panthers hope will continue in the immediate wake of Gonzalez’s injury.

So why is a kicker so vital to Week 1? Because with the absence of the ever-polarizing Deshaun Watson, Jacoby Brisset will get the start and this could be a hard-fought game right to the end.

Simply put, the type of game that could be decided by a strong leg.

If this game comes down to the wire as expected and that weight is thrust upon the new kicker in town, look for all the lights to be on Pineiro as the entire fanbase holds their breath watching that ball tumble toward the uprights.

Pineiro will be on a short leash this season. If the kicker costs Carolina a game or two, look for the organization to make a move quickly.