The Carolina Panthers had a lot of blame to go around after another disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and pass-game coordinator Jonathan Cooley were both fired after the defeat, suggesting pressure is mounting in the building.
But that blame must start with the offensive line.
And for veteran left tackle Rasheed Walker, the Panthers should think long and hard about whether he deserves another game on the blindside.
Carolina Panthers must seriously consider benching Rasheed Walker
Everything looked promising for Walker in the offseason. The Panthers needed a short-term stopgap after Ikem Ekwonu suffered a torn patellar tendon in the playoffs, and signing the Penn State product seemed like a shrewd move.
His market in free agency wasn't as hot as expected. So the money Carolina paid for him was also considered a significant steal.
Unfortunately, the reality has been far different.
Walker has struggled to meet even modest expectations. The pass protection technique and inability to hold firm against the run are ongoing complications. His performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was disastrous, but his outing in Green Bay was even worse.
The Packers let Walker take his chances elsewhere in free agency, and it's not hard to see why. That also gave them a head start on exploiting his glaring weaknesses, which put quarterback Bryce Young under duress almost constantly.
They attacked Walker from all angles. They overpowered him with speed and bull rushes that he had no answer for. It was an abomination, and Amazon Prime analyst Kirk Herbstreit just ended up feeling sorry for him at the end of the contest.
Carolina Panthers have Rasheed Walker replacement options despite injury concerns
This cannot go on for much longer, not if the Panthers want to keep Young healthy over the second half of 2026.
The Panthers have to consider benching Walker. Ekwonu is reportedly still a way off from returning, and right tackle Taylor Moton is also done for the year with a fractured fibula. Rookie first-round pick Monroe Freeling is also going through some inevitable growing pains, so the options are limited.
However, they are there.
Brady Christensen has experience at tackle. He's not been involved this season yet, but it's hard to imagine him doing worse than Walker if given a chance when healthy. He knows the scheme, knows the club inside out, and knows Young. That might be enough to provide an upgrade.
The Panthers also have a riskier option.
Freeling was drafted as a left tackle. Put him on the blindside, where he might be most comfortable, and put Stone Forsythe or Christensen on the right-hand side to shore things up.
Either option would be better than sticking with Walker.
It's gone on for long enough.
Sometimes, cheap doesn't mean better. The market should have told the Panthers everything they needed to know about Walker, but general manager Dan Morgan thought he was the smartest guy in the room.
And with change potentially looming, Walker's status as a starting-caliber option on the edge might be over much sooner than expected.
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