2 min read • August 14, 2021
Posted in
Carolina Panthers
QB Sam Darnold -
The Carolina Panthers’ new QB missed four games last year as he dealt with right shoulder issues. He had an incredibly down year -- mostly due to the shoulder injury -- finishing last season with 2,208 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 games for the Jets. He also suffered a bout of mono in 2019 that caused him to miss three of the first four games. He finished 2019 with 3,024 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Darnold gets a fresh start in Carolina and is ostensibly healthy for the 2021 season.
RB Christian McCaffrey -
The elite running back’s 2020 season was marred by injury after injury. A high ankle sprain in the fourth quarter of a Week 2 loss landed McCaffrey on IR. He came back on Nov. 8, but separated his shoulder in that game and missed the rest of the season. McCaffrey was initially expected to return for the final few games of the season, but developed a thigh problem while recovering from the shoulder injury. With this, the Panthers decided to shelf him since they were well out of playoff contention. He played in just three games in 2020, finishing with 225 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns along with 17 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. Evaluating his injuries, this should be a big bounce back year for CMC. Much of the absence last year was about preserving their biggest weapon for the long term. Of the top fantasy RBs, we have much more confidence in McCaffrey than Saquon Barkley, who is coming off an ACL tear.
CB Donte Jackson -
The Panthers’ number one corner dealt with a troublesome toe injury that caused him to miss two games and leave multiple games prematurely. The 25-year-old finished last year with 34 combined tackles and three interceptions in 13 games. Jackson should start this season healthy and that could improve his impact for the Panthers defense, which ranked 18th in passing yards allowed last year.
CB A.J. Bouye -
When the former Broncos starting cornerback fell on his outstretched right arm Week 1 last year, the arm hyperextended and went over his head. Bouye ended up dislocating his shoulder and missed the next four weeks on IR. He returned for four games, but suffered a concussion in Week 8 and missed the following week. Bouye played Weeks 10 through 13, then a PED suspension sidelined him for the final four games. He finished 2020 with 23 combined tackles in seven games. After joining the Panthers this offseason, he suffered an undisclosed soft tissue injury at the beginning of camp and will miss a few weeks. There were no public reports of surgery on the shoulder he injured last year, but it is likely a procedure was done to allow him to play without a brace and reduce the risk of dislocating that shoulder again. The muscle strain he suffered at the beginning of camp is likely an acclimation injury. Bouye has a chance to start the year healthy, but will miss crucial practice time getting used to the new scheme and playing with his new teammates.
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