Robbie Anderson aiming to put Panthers nightmare behind him

Robbie Anderson is looking to put his nightmare with the Carolina Panthers behind him and help the Arizona Cardinals mount a postseason run in 2022. 

It’s been quite a week for Robbie Anderson. The wide receiver was sent to the locker room following two separate altercations with coach Joe Dailey in Week 6 and the Carolina Panthers wasted no time removing him completely from the equation just a few short hours after their disappointing loss at the Los Angeles Rams.

Anderson was traded to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday for a 2024 sixth-round selection and a 2025 seventh-rounder. This news was largely well received by the fanbase, even if the player’s frustrations were warranted after another inept offensive performance within Ben McAdoo’s scheme, which is outdated and not fit for purpose in the modern-day NFL.

This is a pretty good landing spot for Anderson, all things considered. The Cardinals might not be setting the world alight at 2-4, but they find themselves just one game behind the other three teams within the division and get a significant boost with the return of All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins from suspension this week.

The former Temple star is also getting the best quarterback he’s ever had by a considerable margin in Kyler Murray, which might help him get back to the form of old. Although how much Anderson will be able to contribute during their Thursday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints with minimal preparation time is another matter.

Robbie Anderson eager to impress after Carolina Panthers departure

It was a bitter end to a relationship that began so promisingly between Anderson and the Panthers. A high-profile switch from the New York Jets brought his first 1,000-yard receiving season in 2020, but these heights were never hit after thanks to inconsistent quarterback distribution and the obvious complications within McAdoo’s system.

Once Matt Rhule was mercifully fired after Week 5, the writing was on the wall for Anderson. As for what went wrong, the receiver took a diplomatic approach when asked upon arriving in Arizona.

"“We didn’t win the Super Bowl. That’s what I play this game for, to win the Super Bowl.”"

Isn’t that the truth?

The Panthers didn’t win a Super Bowl. They didn’t manage more than 11 wins under Rhule and are now clear frontrunners to get the No. 1 overall selection in 2023 according to a recent projection from Football Outsiders, which gives them a 42.8 percent chance of having their pick of the top college prospects.

Anderson cut a forlorn figure over his final few months in Carolina. In truth, the Panthers made a mistake by extending him in the first place, which is costing them a significant amount of dead-cap money this year and next as a result.

This is a fresh start for Anderson. One he’ll be keen to take advantage of as part of an offense that should be performing far better than they are right now.

As for the Panthers, they’ll be hoping individuals such as Terrace Marshall Jr., Shi Smith, and Laviska Shenault Jr. can step up and make their presence felt. But the onus will also be on McAdoo to somehow conjure up creative plays, which has proven impossible up to now.

It’s clear that big changes are coming in Carolina. Anderson might not be the only big name departing before the 2022 trade deadline, with all eyes now turning to the likes of Christian McCaffrey and leading up to the November 1 tipping point.

A fascinating few weeks await. But for Anderson, he can look forward with a sense of optimism at long last.