4 key observations from Christian McCaffrey’s performance vs. Cardinals
By Dean Jones
What were some key observations from Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey’s performance against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4?
There was a lot on the line for the Carolina Panthers in Week 4. Another home game against the Arizona Cardinals – a team they’ve dominated in recent years – seemed like the perfect chance to build positive momentum and having Christian McCaffrey in the lineup was a huge boost after some concerns emerged on the health front leading up to the contest.
McCaffrey missed two days of practice earlier in the week but didn’t find himself on the final injury report. He was expected to be the focal point for Carolina’s struggling offense once again, but this failed to materialize as the Panthers collapsed late en route to their third defeat of the campaign.
Just what this means for the Panthers moving forward is anyone’s guess. McCaffrey can only do so much, but unless quarterback Baker Mayfield figures things out within Ben McAdoo’s bland scheme, nothing much will alter during a crucial stretch of games heading into midseason.
With that being said, here are four key observations from McCaffrey’s performance against the Cardinals in Week 4.
Key Observation No. 1
Christian McCaffrey looked healthy
As stated previously, Christian McCaffrey found himself on the injury report again last week. A thigh problem caused panic within the fanbase, but the running back showed no adverse effects from the complication based on his time on the field.
McCaffrey looked sharp and explosive, which is in keeping with what we’ve seen in 2022. Even if it didn’t alter the overall outcome for the Carolina Panthers when it was all said and done.
Still, it’s another contest in which McCaffrey came through relatively unscathed. And in a game of few positives, fans will take it.