Tag: Carolina Panthers

Categories
NFL (American Football)

Robbie Anderson Ejected by Panthers After Sideline Outburst, Signaling Potential Exit Amid Roster Shakeup

Robbie Anderson
Robbie Anderson (NFL)

The Carolina Panthers appear poised to make significant roster changes following the dismissal of head coach Matt Rhule, with wide receiver Robbie Anderson among the players potentially on the trading block. Anderson’s status became more tenuous after Sunday’s game against the Rams, where his behavior on the sidelines drew negative attention. He was seen sitting away from his teammates and eventually engaged in heated arguments with wide receivers coach Joe Dailey and interim head coach Steve Wilks. The situation culminated in Anderson being ejected by his own team and sent to the locker room before the game ended.

After the incident, Anderson expressed confusion and frustration, claiming he did not understand why he was removed from the game. He stated his desire to compete and emphasized his passion for football, describing his ejection as unjustified. Anderson questioned how any true competitor would be content with being sidelined, particularly when they believed they had done nothing wrong. His comments highlighted his bewilderment and dissatisfaction with the situation.

Robbie Anderson
Robbie Anderson (NFL)

The exact cause of Anderson’s initial argument with Dailey remains unclear, but tensions between Anderson and the Panthers organization have reportedly been building. Despite signing a two-year contract extension worth over $20 million in 2023, Anderson’s production has been underwhelming, with just over 500 receiving yards last season and inconsistent performances this year. He also made waves during the offseason by hinting at retirement and openly criticizing quarterback Baker Mayfield, though he later reconciled with Mayfield after the QB joined the Panthers.

Anderson’s sideline outburst occurred during interim head coach Steve Wilks’ first game leading the team, putting Carolina in a precarious position at wide receiver. With Anderson ejected, the Panthers were left with only two healthy receivers, D.J. Moore and Terrace Marshall Jr., as Laviska Shenault Jr. and Andre Roberts were sidelined due to injuries. This left the team struggling with depth at a critical position during an already turbulent time.

In addressing the incident, Wilks took a firm stance, stating, “No one is bigger than the team.” His remarks underscored a commitment to team unity and discipline, signaling that individual disruptions will not be tolerated. As the Panthers navigate the aftermath of Rhule’s firing and consider potential trades, Anderson’s actions may further motivate the team to move on from the veteran receiver.

Categories
NFL (American Football)

Saquon Barkley breaks the Eagles’ single-season rushing record and eyes Eric Dickerson’s NFL record

Saquon Barkley runs with the ball in the 1st half

Saquon Barkley knew that he could break the Eagles’ single-season rushing record on Sunday with a performance like the one he has become known for in his first season in Philadelphia.

However, Barkley wasn’t sure when exactly he would reach that milestone—until the “MVP!” chants filled the air after a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter.

“The records are great, they put a smile on your face,” Barkley said, “but the season is far from over.”

Barkley needed 109 yards to break LeSean McCoy’s record, and he ran for 124 yards, bringing his season total to 1,623 yards in the Eagles’ 22-16 win over Carolina.

It only took Barkley 13 games to surpass McCoy, who rushed for 1,607 yards in 2013. He also passed Wilbert Montgomery, who had 1,512 yards in 1978.

Jalen Hurts runs with the ball in the 1st half

“I never wrote the goal down to break it,” Barkley said. “You’re always aware of it. That’s how I train. That’s how I operate in the offseason. I want to be great.”

Barkley is also on track to break Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, which was set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams.

“That would be extremely cool to do,” Barkley said. “If it happens, it happens, and not with the mindset of, I’m scared to go try to do it. Whatever it takes to win football games.”

Barkley is averaging 124.8 yards per game. If he keeps up this pace and plays one more game than Dickerson did, he could become the top single-season rusher in NFL history. He needs 483 yards in the final four games to break Dickerson’s 40-year-old record.

He averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 20 attempts against the Panthers, helping the Eagles win their ninth consecutive game.

McCoy, who was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame this season, is still the franchise’s rushing leader with 6,792 yards. McCoy, referencing his old uniform number, congratulated Barkley on social media, saying “a lot of love, coming from 2-5.”

“Being a fan of Shady’s growing up, and seeing the spectacular things he was able to do with the ball in his hand, to be able to have my name mentioned with him definitely means a lot,” Barkley said.

Barkley left the New York Giants in the offseason and signed a three-year deal worth $26 million guaranteed with the Eagles, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.

At 27 years old, Barkley has lived up to the money.

Barkley is one of the favorites for league MVP, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was the only player with better MVP odds before Sunday’s games.

Barkley has set a franchise record with nine 100-yard rushing games in a season. Though he didn’t score a touchdown on Sunday, he entered the game leading the league with four rushing touchdowns of 25-plus yards.

Saquon Barkley reacts in the 2nd half

Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, has rushed for more than 1,000 yards three times in his six seasons with the Giants. He finished with 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022 and ran for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who had been hesitant to spend on top-tier running backs, moved quickly to sign Barkley, and the decision has been widely celebrated in Philadelphia since the start of the season.

Barkley rushed for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in the season opener against Green Bay. His three touchdowns were the most by an Eagles player in his debut since Terrell Owens in 2004.

Barkley has continued to impress with his performance and popularity, highlighted by a memorable reverse leap over a Jacksonville defender last month.

He has now passed every running back ahead of him on the Eagles’ rushing list and is on track to make NFL history.

Categories
NFL (American Football)

Barkley shines as the Eagles defeat the Panthers 22-16, but the passing game leaves Philly frustrated

Saquon Barkley reacts in the 2nd half

The mood in the Eagles’ locker room wasn’t as happy as it should have been, considering they had just won their ninth game in a row and set a franchise rushing record.

DeVonta Smith, the former 1,000-yard receiver, caught a touchdown pass but wasn’t happy with the lack of offense. A.J. Brown, who holds many team receiving records, didn’t have much to say in his frustrated postgame interview, much like how he didn’t have much of an impact on the field when he only had four catches.

This was the attitude of a team still fighting for a top NFC playoff spot?

The good news for the Eagles: Saquon Barkley rushed for 124 yards, breaking the Eagles’ season rushing record, and Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in their 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Despite Barkley’s strong performance, Hurts and the offense struggled again, but the Eagles secured a playoff spot later in the day when Arizona lost to Seattle, along with Atlanta’s earlier loss.

The Eagles (11-2) stayed in second place in the NFC, behind Detroit (12-1), after a sluggish game against the Panthers (3-10).

“Everybody has a reason to want more,” Hurts said.

Hurts’ passing stats were modest: 14 of 21 for 108 yards. Brown had four catches for 43 yards and threw his helmet in frustration after a three-and-out, while Smith had four catches for 37 yards.

Jalen Hurts runs with the ball in the 1st half

What does the team need to improve? “Passing,” Brown said dryly. How tough was it for the receivers to get into a rhythm? “Incredibly tough,” he answered.

Hurts didn’t do enough to involve Smith and Brown, which is one reason the lowly Panthers stayed in the game until the final moments.

Hurts took four sacks, held onto the ball too long, and missed open receivers who were trying to get his attention. “I play my role in how we execute,” Hurts said. “But it’s about what position we put ourselves in. It’s not my choice.”

That comment will likely be a topic of discussion for coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore this week. “I think that’s fair that the questions are about our pass game right now,” Sirianni said. At least Barkley was there to help.

Barkley achieved another milestone in his MVP push when he ran for 9 yards in the fourth quarter to break LeSean McCoy’s Eagles record of 1,607 rushing yards, set in 2013. Barkley now has 1,623 yards with four games left.

“How cool is it that we have a team rushing record in Week 13?” Sirianni said.

Hurts showed some good moments, like when he connected with Grant Calcaterra for a 4-yard touchdown pass, and Barkley ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Eagles a 22-16 lead early in the fourth.

Bryce Young led the Panthers into Eagles territory on their final drive. He completed a 13-yard pass on fourth down to get to the 38-yard line, and a second-down pass to Xavier Legette gave the Eagles a brief scare when the receiver seemed to have the ball in the end zone.

But he didn’t. Young managed to avoid a pass rush on fourth down, but his last throw was incomplete. He finished 19 of 34 for 191 yards. Panthers coach Dave Canales said Legette “absolutely” had to make the catch.

“That’s a big play we’re counting on. He’d be the first one to tell you he’s got to make that play,” Canales said. “Bryce steps up, makes a beautiful throw in the situation. We had the coverage we wanted, all that. Those are the plays that we’ve just got to find a way to make for us to get back on the winning column.”

The Panthers, 12 1/2-point underdogs, played like a team fighting for playoff positioning.

Chuba Hubbard, who rushed for 92 yards and topped 1,000 on the season, scored a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter to make it 16-14. Eddy Pineiro had kicked a 38-yard field goal earlier, but he missed the extra point.

Bryce Young runs with the ball in the 2nd half

Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was checked for a concussion earlier, changed the game late in the second quarter when he intercepted Young’s deep pass at the Eagles’ 41-yard line. Hurts scrambled for 15 yards on the next drive and finished it with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Smith to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead.

Gardner-Johnson’s pick saved the Eagles from a poor performance.

The Eagles failed to score on their opening drive for the 13th time this season, and the usual offensive bursts never came. Hurts did score on a “tush push” early in the second quarter, his 13th rushing touchdown of the season, to give the Eagles a 7-3 lead.

The Panthers, with nothing to lose, went for it on fourth-and-3, and Young hit Tommy Tremble for a 3-yard touchdown to take a 10-7 lead.

The Eagles did just enough to win. Now, their challenge is improving the receivers’ performance and keeping them happy as they head toward the playoffs.

“Let the dissatisfaction fuel you for more,” Hurts said. “I think that’s always a fair place to be. And so we know there’s more out there for us, and we’re in pursuit of trying to find it.”

Categories
FEATURED

What the Panthers’ GM said to Bryce Young right after he was benched

Bryce Young reacts in the news conference after the loss

After the Carolina Panthers benched quarterback Bryce Young following their second game of the season, multiple NFL reporters suggested that his time with the team might be over.

In a report published on Friday, Jim Trotter from The Athletic shared what Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan told Young shortly after the decision.

“Other than your parents, you’re not going to have a bigger fan than myself,” Morgan told Young. “I was here when we drafted you, and I want you to be great more than you even know.”

Morgan, who was the assistant GM when the Panthers drafted Young in 2023, could have distanced himself from that decision but chose to remain supportive. Meanwhile, head coach Dave Canales, who was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when the Panthers acquired Young, is now responsible for helping the young quarterback improve.

Bryce Young
Bryce Young (NFL)

Since returning to the starting lineup in Week 8, Young has had a record of 2-3. He has completed about 60.4% of his passes for 1,082 yards, with six touchdowns and three interceptions. Over those five games, he has also rushed for 82 yards and one touchdown on 15 attempts.

It’s important to remember that Young could have one more win if his defense had helped him out during the final moments of a close overtime loss to the Buccaneers last Sunday.

Earlier this week, a report highlighted how Young is “throwing the ball with more confidence and operating the offense well.” It also mentioned that the 23-year-old is “learning how to become more vocal and showing more command and urgency.”

When the Panthers hired Canales to help fix Young after a tough rookie season, few expected that benching him would be seen as a positive part of his development.

Now, it will be interesting to see how Young performs when the 3-9 Panthers face the 10-2 Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday. Will he struggle again, like he did in early September, or will he continue to improve and take more steps forward?

Categories
NFL (American Football)

McLaughlin’s overtime field goal lifts the Bucs to a 26-23 victory over the Panthers

Baker Mayfield passes in the 1st half

Baker Mayfield was scared he had torn his Achilles tendon when Jadeveon Clowney stepped on the back of his right ankle in the third quarter. For a moment, he thought his season might be over.

Fortunately for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it turned out to be less serious. Mayfield returned to the game after missing only two plays, leading four more scoring drives. The Bucs won 26-23 in overtime against the Carolina Panthers, thanks to a 30-yard field goal from Chase McLaughlin. With the win, the Buccaneers moved into a tie for first place in the NFC South.

“Honestly, it scared the daylights out of me,” Mayfield said. “I’ve seen some people pop their Achilles before and they say it feels like you get cleated in the back. Obviously not knowing what had happened, I thought that’s what I did. It was a little painful, but I got taped up again and went back out there.”

Bucky Irving ran for a career-high 152 yards and a touchdown for the Bucs (6-6), who are now tied with Atlanta at the top of the division. Mayfield finished the game 21 of 33 for 235 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Carolina Panthers players celebrate after scoring in the 1st half

He improved to 4-0 against the Panthers, the team that cut him in 2022. Mike Evans had five catches for 118 yards, including a one-handed grab for a 1-yard touchdown catch.

“Mike’s a grown man,” Mayfield said. “I don’t know how he caught that ball. He’s proven time and time again for 11 years that he can do it.”

In overtime, the Panthers, led by Bryce Young, were moving into position for a game-winning score. Adam Thielen made a one-handed grab to get into Tampa Bay territory. However, on the next play, Chuba Hubbard fumbled, and Mayfield took over.

Mayfield connected with Evans for 21 yards, and then Rashaad White ran for 38 yards to the Carolina 10-yard line, setting up McLaughlin’s fourth field goal of the game.

“The football gods were kind to us,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “The first half of the season, we wouldn’t have finished that one out. We did a heck of a job fighting back all game. It was a tough game. They played tough. We played tough. We made mistakes in the first half of the season and, this game, we pulled it out. We learned some mental toughness.”

The loss guaranteed the Panthers (3-9) their seventh straight losing season. A disappointed Hubbard sat on the Carolina bench for several minutes after the game while his teammates headed to the locker room.

“I hold myself to a high standard and we are trying to change things around here and that’s not helping with anything,” Hubbard said. “So I’ve got to be better and all I can do is just work. It happened and I have to grow from it.”

Young was 26 of 46 passing for 298 yards. He led a 60-yard drive, ending with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Thielen, which gave the Panthers a 23-20 lead with 30 seconds left in regulation. The stadium was buzzing with excitement.

Bryce Young passes in the 1st half

However, in overtime, Young didn’t attempt to jump on Hubbard’s fumble, which was a mistake similar to a costly decision by Cam Newton in the Panthers’ Super Bowl 50 loss to the Denver Broncos.

“It was a reaction,” Young said, offering no further explanation.

Panthers coach Dave Canales said he’s happy with Young’s progress but noted the team’s mistakes in the loss.

“We have to put together a full complement of quarters, a full four quarters to become the team that we want to become,” Canales said.

Categories
NFL (American Football)

Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers aim to maintain their momentum as they face the Panthers and former coordinator Dave Canales

Baker Mayfield passes in the 2nd half

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hoping to make a push for their fourth straight NFC South title.

But former offensive coordinator Dave Canales is standing in their way.

The Buccaneers (5-6) are one game behind the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL’s weakest division, heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers (3-8). The Panthers hired Canales as their head coach after he helped revive Mayfield’s career last season.

“Dave, being the optimist bully that he is, just always ‘the sun is going to shine again’ and has that belief in the next play,” Mayfield said. “It was weird. It was rare that you see a coach that actually embodied that ‘next play is the most important one’ we’re-never-out-of-the-fight type mentality. He took that literal, day to day, so it was a different kind of energy than I think anybody had been around but it was good for everybody.”

The Buccaneers are coming off a 30-7 win over the New York Giants and now have star wide receiver Mike Evans back, which will boost their passing game. The Bucs lost their other top wide receiver, Chris Godwin, earlier this year to a season-ending dislocated left ankle.

Dave Canales talsk to Bryce Young in the 2nd half of the game

Mayfield, who played for the Panthers in 2022 before being released midseason, led the Buccaneers to a sweep of Carolina last year.

The Panthers hired Canales to help develop young quarterback Bryce Young.

Canales benched Young two weeks into the season, but the 2023 No. 1 NFL pick regained the starting job after veteran Andy Dalton went down with a thumb injury and has played better since. The Panthers won two straight games and last Sunday nearly defeated the two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, losing 30-27.

Canales still hasn’t committed to Young as the team’s long-term quarterback but has been encouraged by his recent progress.

“Just the progress that we’re looking for as he continues to earn these moments, then, yeah, he’ll be in there,” Canales said. “And that’s what I’ve been most excited about is, is that there’s weekly growth that’s happening. And so, we’re just taking it a week at a time. I know that’s been my language, but he’s really taking responsibility for it and pushing us that way.

“And so, the bottom line is, he’s giving us a chance to win.”

Categories
NFL (American Football)

Panthers’ near upset of the Chiefs has coach Dave Canales feeling optimistic about the team’s progress

Carolina Panthers celebrates in the 1st half

The Carolina Panthers may not have won, but their close 30-27 loss to the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday has first-year coach Dave Canales feeling hopeful about the team’s future.

Canales has good reason to be excited. The Panthers (3-8) have come a long way since their first two games, where they were outscored 73-13. After the tough loss, Canales said players were disappointed in the locker room for “letting an opportunity slip away,” but he believes the team can sense the progress they’re making. He likes the team’s determination and effort.

“We are becoming us,” Canales said. “We’re becoming a style of football that we want to pride ourselves on. We took care of the football. Defensively, we got after it … I think that the guys can feel what we’re trying to get done philosophically.”

Canales was so pleased with the effort that he gave his players the day off on Monday, a gesture usually reserved for after wins.

One of the main reasons the team has improved is the performance of quarterback Bryce Young. Young made several important plays when it mattered, helping the Panthers rally from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Unfortunately, Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs on a game-winning drive in the final minutes.

Young finished the game completing 21 of 35 passes for 263 yards, one touchdown, and no turnovers.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales talks with reporters

In a change from his usual routine, Canales confirmed that Young will be the starter again next Sunday against Tampa Bay.

“I just saw him playing decisive and it comes with confidence in knowing his guys are going to be where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there,” Canales said.

“You saw a bunch of back foot throws where he knew somebody was coming open and the anticipation, all that comes from the chemistry just building over these weeks. I was really excited to see some of those things come alive.”

Despite the progress, Young is still just 4-18 as an NFL starter, and Canales didn’t go as far as to say that Young has secured his place as the franchise quarterback.

“That’s really far in the future,” Canales said. “Right now, I’m just looking to build off this week, have another solid week of practice, bring the guys back together and just attack the basics, the fundamentals right now.”

Categories
NFL (American Football)

Panthers rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders has been cleared and discharged from the hospital following a neck injury

Ja’Tavion Sanders is helped by the staff his injury

Carolina rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders was released from Carolinas Medical Center after suffering a neck injury in the Panthers’ 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales did not provide any further updates on Sanders’ condition, only mentioning that he was discharged from the hospital after being assessed by doctors.

Team officials confirmed that Sanders had full use of all of his extremities.

Sanders, who has shown great promise on the Panthers offense, caught a 10-yard pass near the sideline before being tackled by Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie near the end of the first half. He was flipped in the air and landed on the back of his head, remaining on the ground for several minutes as his teammates gathered around him.

Carolina Panthers celebrates in the 1st half

Sanders was placed on a backboard and taken to the locker room.

As he left the field, Sanders appeared to raise his arms, with a trainer’s hand resting on top of them.

Before the injury, Sanders had made three catches for 49 yards.

Categories
NFL (American Football)

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs secured another thrilling win at the last moment, defeating the Carolina Panthers 30-27

Patrick Mahomes in the 1st half

Ten yards into a scramble, Patrick Mahomes could have easily slid to get the first down or stepped out of bounds to move on to the next play.

Instead, the three-time Super Bowl MVP cut back inside and sprinted 23 more yards up the field, helping set up Spencer Schrader’s 31-yard field goal as time ran out. This gave the Chiefs a 30-27 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

“At that point, yards are more important than getting out of bounds,” Mahomes said. “With three timeouts, I just tried to cut through, and Justin Watson had a great block, allowing me to get down the field and out of bounds.”

That game-winning drive was Mahomes’ 21st of his career, and the Chiefs secured their fifth win of the season that came down to the final seconds. Eight of the Chiefs’ wins have been by one score.

Carolina Panthers players celebrates in the 2nd half

“You always want to have some blowouts and be a little calmer in the fourth quarter, but I’ve always said it could be a good thing when you get to the playoffs later in the season knowing that you have been in those moments before, and knowing how to attack it play by play not making it too big of a moment,” Mahomes said.

Then he smiled and added, “But I would say this more than anybody, I would love to win a game not by the very last play.”

In his first game at Bank of America Stadium, Mahomes completed 27 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 60 yards, including 33 yards on that final scramble. The Chiefs (10-1) scored on six of their eight possessions.

Noah Gray caught four passes for 66 yards and scored two touchdowns for the second week in a row. DeAndre Hopkins also scored for the defending Super Bowl champions. Kareem Hunt ran for 68 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for 19 yards.

Bryce Young played well for Carolina (3-8), finishing 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown. He helped the Panthers recover from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game on Chuba Hubbard’s 1-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion with 1:46 left.

Panthers coach Dave Canales, who had benched Young earlier this season for veteran Andy Dalton, said last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick “absolutely” will stay as the team’s starting quarterback next week. This is a change from Canales’ usual approach of waiting a few days before naming a starter.

“Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunities,” Canales said. “And he is making a statement to all of us. Showing us he can make plays in critical areas. He did a great job extending today.”

Kansas City Chiefs players celebrates in the 2nd half

Young said, “For me, I just want to focus on what I can control. Regardless, I always have the same mindset and preparation, wanting to be better throughout the week. I am definitely grateful for confidence.”

Still, there is room for improvement.

The Panthers moved the ball well but struggled in the red zone, settling for field goals of 30, 32, 29, and 33 yards from Eddy Pineiro, the most accurate kicker in NFL history.

The Chiefs set the tone early as Samaje Perine returned the opening kickoff 56 yards, and Mahomes found Gray for a 35-yard touchdown on the third play, putting them up 7-0. Gray had gone nine games without a touchdown catch before grabbing two last week against Buffalo. His 11-yard score late in the second quarter gave him two more touchdowns against the Panthers.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid praised Mahomes’ composure but was concerned about his team’s nine penalties for 90 yards.