5 former Panthers players thriving with new teams in 2022 so far
By Dean Jones
Taylor Heinicke – Former Carolina Panthers QB
Things didn’t look too promising for Ron Rivera and the Washington Commanders once upon a time. However, the former Carolina Panthers head coach has galvanized this talented group to a level where they can now realistically enter the wildcard picture with a strong end to the campaign.
Rivera performs best as a leader of men when the chips are down. Something the Panthers are also getting from interim head coach Steve Wilks, whose no-nonsense approach and knowledge of what makes this franchise tick led to a mini-turnaround and increasing calls for team owner David Tepper to make this move permanent.
Another reason for Washington’s resurgence is the performances of Taylor Heinicke. The quarterback took over from Carson Wentz and made the position his own with some exceptional displays that brought him out of the shadows and into the limelight once again.
Heinicke is completing 61.8 percent of his passes for 1,444 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions from seven games. His passer rating is 86.3 and the signal-caller also boasts a rushing touchdown for good measure.
More importantly for Heinicke and the Commanders, he’s led them to a 5-1-1 record during this span. It’s never going to be perfect with the Old Dominion product, but Rivera knows how to get the best out of a player he worked with previously in Carolina.