Who were the big winners and losers from yet another Carolina Panthers' road hammering at the Detroit Lions in Week 5?
The Carolina Panthers are 0-5 and staring into oblivion once again. Frank Reich is cutting a forlorn figure these days and is losing the faith of most fans, which is thanks to uninspired football in all three phases and looking like there is no end to their misery in sight.
People are starting to question everything. From the constant failings of team owner David Tepper to a coaching staff incapable of putting together the right game plan and players seemingly not talented enough to execute effectively, it's a mess from top to bottom.
That's without mentioning those in the front office led by Scott Fitterer, who looked pleased as punch with his roster construction this offseason. This led to the general manager declaring how ready the Panthers were to make that next leap and challenge for the NFC South.
Over the first five weeks, nothing could be further from the truth. Big changes might be coming if things go as many fear at the Miami Dolphins before the bye, but who were the big winners and losers from Carolina's latest catastrophe?
Loser No. 1
Jeremy Chinn - Carolina Panthers DB/LB
Considering the number of injuries that the Carolina Panthers are dealing with on defense, to see Jeremy Chinn so uninvolved is concerning. The versatile defender logged just 30 percent of snaps - he was on the field more as a special teamer (41%).
This is worrying and perhaps represents an indictment of how Carolina's coaching staff perceives his talent. Chinn's ineffectiveness in coverage is costing him playing time and in a contract year, the chances of him getting paid long-term are growing slimmer with every passing week.
The time might be coming to consider trading Chinn. This was an inconceivable notion after taking the league by storm as a rookie, but right now, the Southern Illinois product looks like an odd man out.
Winner No. 1
Adam Thielen - Carolina Panthers WR
There aren't many Carolina Panthers players or coaches covering themselves in glory these days. Not entirely unsurprising when one considers the team's current form, but one or two continue to provide some semblance of positivity while all around them crumbles.
Adam Thielen fits into this bracket. His experience and ability to create separation through outstanding route-running remain an asset for rookie quarterback Bryce Young, which was evident throughout another fine mess overall for the Panthers in Week 5.
Thielen isn't going to blow any team away with exceptional speed. That's never been his game and certainly won't change at 33 years old, but his reliability is something sorely lacking from younger pass-catchers who came into the campaign with breakout potential.
Even though this game got away from the Panthers quickly, Thielen refused to throw in the towel. He gave everything right until the end, which cannot be said of most on the field as Carolina capitulated in the face of high-quality opposition.
The former undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State brought in 11 receptions from 13 targets for 107 receiving yards and one touchdown. Thielen now has 394 yards and three scores through five games, which makes him the Panthers' most productive pass-catching presence by a considerable margin.
Thielen should be commended for his performances. However, having an aging presence as Carolina's undisputed WR1 is a damning indictment on recruitment and personnel evaluation.
Loser No. 2
Miles Sanders - Carolina Panthers RB
There was so much optimism surrounding the signing of Miles Sanders in free agency. While there were a few eyebrows raised about the Carolina Panthers spending decent money on the running back position after trading Christian McCaffrey, he was coming off a Pro Bowl campaign and played a significant role in the Philadelphia Eagles reaching the Super Bowl as NFC champions.
That sort of winning mentality hasn't been seen in Carolina since the mid-2010s. Sanders is still dealing with a groin issue, but it was once again a subpar performance from a player who looks devoid of any confidence currently.
Just when the Panthers were starting to turn the tide, Sanders brought this to an abrupt halt with a critical first-half fumble. The Detroit Lions - smelling blood in the water behind offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's trickery - made them pay with a touchdown immediately to put the game out of sight.
Sanders rode the pine for the most part after that, with the Panthers seeing more of what Chuba Hubbard could bring as the lead-back. One could make a strong argument that he performed better, which means the coaching staff has a big decision to make regarding their marquee free-agent addition.
Benching Sanders heading into the bye week cannot be ruled out. But if he's given another chance at the Miami Dolphins, anything less than a major leap in production will come with grave consequences attached.
Winner No. 2
Laviska Shenault Jr. - Carolina Panthers RB/WR
As previously stated, the Carolina Panthers were never really in this one. They looked outmatched from very early in the clash, made preventable mistakes that gave them a mountain to climb and although things improved during what is akin to garbage time, the result was way beyond hope.
Finding the positives these days is difficult where the Panthers are concerned. This is a franchise going nowhere in 2023 and their 0-5 record dictates as much, but the production from Laviska Shenault Jr. when calls came his way represents a sign for further potential involvement as the campaign goes on.
Shenault ran with a sense of purpose when allocated touches out of the backfield. Two plays, in particular, looked to have a sense of creativity about them at last, which obviously benefitted the former second-round selection and made the Detroit Lions think twice about their own defensive implementation.
With the aforementioned Miles Sanders struggling to find any sort of rhythm currently, Frank Reich and Thomas Brown should seek more ways to get Shenault the football - a player with a unique blend of size and physicality that can be utilized in numerous ways.
It was only fleeting - Shenault got five rushing carries and no targets in the passing game - but he was at least fighting and playing with a sense of urgency. If only others on offense could follow his lead.
Terrace Marshall Jr. - Carolina Panthers WR
After another offseason where Terrace Marshall Jr. showcased his outstanding athletic attributes, there was optimism that the wide receiver could emerge from the shadows and finally become a reliable option in the absence of D.J. Moore. Sadly, this ended up being fool's gold where the former LSU star was concerned.
Marshall's been a virtual non-factor in the passing game through five weeks. There were signs of life last time out with nine receptions from 10 targets against the Minnesota Vikings, but any slim hope of building on this newfound momentum didn't materialize in Week 5.
Despite the Panthers getting in a hole and relying on the passing game for the game's majority, Marshall failed to register a single offensive snap. Considering he's not a special teams contributor, the wideout spent the entire clash watching from the sideline.
This is a concerning development for Marshall, who's fallen behind rookie Jonathan Mingo in the pecking order. Whether this changes at the Miami Dolphins remains to be seen, but he's another who would probably welcome a change of scenery before the trade deadline if there is interest from elsewhere.
Again, this calls into question the decision to pick Marshall in the first place. Just one of many personnel moves that have seen general manager Scott Fitterer's job performance come under increasing scrutiny from fans.