4 Panthers who can help end 2022 season on a high at the Saints

Josh Norman – Carolina Panthers CB

The glory days of that 2015 Super Bowl run are well and truly behind the Carolina Panthers with only a shell of that team still on the roster in 2022. A quick and relatively shocking fall from grace following a one-loss campaign necessitated change, even if the majority of these only served to put the team into an even deeper hole.

One of those moves, which ended up being for the best in the long run, was letting All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman walk over to Washington in 2016.  While at the time this was seen as an absolutely braindead move by the Panthers’ front office, the following player’s regression in a different environment proved the team was entirely justified in their decision.

With the loss of Jaycee Horn to injury yet again, the Panthers came calling and Norman answered. Walking out of his job as a barista and onto an NFL field once again.

There were only 10 snaps for fans to soak in against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what was going to be a short stint one way or another. However, it was a move that brought a much-needed spark back to the fans who remember Norman’s magical moments from a few short years ago.

Norman won’t take the league by storm or even win a contract for next season at this stage of things, but that’s not important anymore. This last game is meaningless and quite possibly better being lost, so why not let the veteran go out on a high with the team that gave him a chance initially?

Seeing Norman out there, even if it goes poorly, even if it’s a disaster, will be just the smile that the fans need after another lost season.