5 Carolina Panthers on the hot seat in Week 10 vs. Falcons
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers find themselves on the hot seat in Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium?
Just what fans can expect from the Carolina Panthers after yet another demoralizing loss is anyone’s guess. An absolute battering at the Cincinnati Bengals threw further doubts at this team’s current direction, with interim head coach Steve Wilks wielding the ax once again among his coaching staff in the hope it can provide the spark needed to steer a rapidly sinking ship in the right direction.
There is no time for the Panthers to feel sorry for themselves. It’s not looking good, but a national showdown with the Atlanta Falcons on home solid should provide all the motivation needed to put on a better performance.
Carolina is staring another high-end draft pick in the face. Miraculously, they also remain in slight contention for the divisional crown, although only the brightest optimist would project this scenario coming to fruition over the second half of 2022.
The Panthers must restore pride after being thumped in Week 9. But here are five influential figures that are on the hot seat this Thursday.
Panther No. 1
Yetur Gross-Matos – Carolina Panthers DE
Let’s keep this short because it feels like Yetur Gross-Matos is a frequent visitor to this list.
The defensive end just isn’t hitting the modest heights expected. Gross-Matos was lackluster once again at the Cincinnati Bengals, failing to generate pressure and couldn’t seem to set the edge on running downs effectively as Joe Mixon ran all over the Carolina Panthers to the tune of five combined touchdowns.
If the Panthers had anyone else, Gross-Matos would likely be a rotational piece. Another poor showing against the Atlanta Falcons would almost certainly seal his fate.