5 Carolina Panthers who’ll be glad to see the back of 2022 season

Henry Anderson – Carolina Panthers DE

Life is full of twists and turns. NFL players are not exempt from this and Henry Anderson’s 2022 season with the Carolina Panthers was another fine example.

The defensive end joined the Panthers early in the campaign thanks to his run-stopping prowess on the edge. It took time for Anderson to get going, but he gradually emerged into an important rotational piece for a defensive line that made great strides as the season wore on.

This was essential considering the struggles Yetur Gross-Matos was going through. Just when it seemed like additional reps would be coming Anderson’s way, a serious health matter threw a wrench into his and Carolina’s plans.

After returning to the Panthers following an injury-related absence, Anderson revealed that he suffered a minor stroke in October. This occurred a day before Carolina welcomed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Bank of America Stadium for what turned out to be Steve Wilks’ first win as interim head coach.

"“I am glad that I was kind of oblivious when it happened because I would have been a little more panicked had I realized what was going on. But like I said, I got pretty lucky.”"

After a lengthy recuperation process, Anderson returned to the field in Week 14 at the Seattle Seahawks. He played 40 percent of the team’s defensive snaps during their season-finale against the New Orleans Saints.

Anderson’s determination to bounce back should be commended. Whether that’s enough for an extension is another question.