5 Carolina Panthers who’ll benefit most from Matt Rhule’s removal

D’Onta Foreman – Carolina Panthers RB

Christian McCaffrey looks healthy and back to his old self. The Carolina Panthers offense might be going through some significant complications, but the All-Pro running back remains one of the league’s most elite players at the position and it’s hard to state how bad things would currently be without his presence.

The same cannot be said for Baker Mayfield, who is expected to miss an extended period thanks to a high ankle sprain. Putting games in P.J. Walker’s hands could bring severe ramifications, so focusing more on running the football is of paramount importance for interim head coach Steve Wilks and Ben McAdoo.

Much was made about the Panthers drafting Chuba Hubbard after Matt Rhule received a recommendation from his wife to do so. The Oklahoma State product hasn’t been much of a factor, but this attachment made things difficult to go in a different direction entirely.

Wilks and McAdoo should have no such sentiment, which means we could see more of D’Onta Foreman. The powerful player filled in superbly for Derrick Henry on the Tenessee Titans in 2021, which makes it all the more bizarre he has just seven carries to his name through five games.

Using Foreman and McCaffrey as a one-two punch with no stable presence under center is the best route forward. It might not come to fruition, but the chances improved greatly after Rhule was sent packing.