The Panthers head into their bye week after a miserable first third of their year. Despite moments of hope in almost every game, they sit winless after six weeks. This has been the result of an abundance of injuries, poor play-calling, and other unfortunate moments. With all of this in mind, let’s look over the Panthers superlatives after the first third of the 2023 season.
Most Valuable Player: Adam Thielen
By far the biggest bright spot on the entire team is wide receiver Adam Thielen. Thielen is in his 10th season in the NFL, but first playing for a team besides the Vikings. He has been an absolute steal, as he’s on track for the best year of his career thus far.
Thielen sits 10th among all pass-catchers with 509 receiving yards, and is one of just nine players to have already caught four touchdowns. He also joins Ja’Marr Chase, Stefon Diggs and Puka Nacua as the only players with 48+ receptions. Thielen’s 49 receptions are more than the Panthers’ three other primary receivers have combined. Safe to say, he’s been everything they hoped for and more.
Most Reliable Player: Frankie Luvu
No matter how rough things get, Panthers fans can always appreciate the effort from linebacker Frankie Luvu. He’s having another phenomenal year, and leads the team with 39 total tackles. He also has 2.5 sacks, and five tackles for loss.
Even when the defense looks lackluster, you can count on Luvu to bring the intensity. It hasn’t been easy on that side of the ball with all of the injuries surrounding him, but he has performed nonetheless. The defense could undergo some changes as the trade deadline approaches, but expect Luvu to continue on as the heartbeat of this unit.
Most Likely to be Traded: Jeremy Chinn/Terrace Marshall Jr.
After seemingly already having their playoff hopes dashed, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see the Panthers send players away in exchange for draft capital over the coming weeks. Two players who have already had their names tossed around in these conversations are Jeremy Chinn and Terrace Marshall Jr.
Chinn, a fourth-year safety, has seen a surprising reduction in playing time this year, and is apparently being sought after by Philadelphia. Trading him seems like a no-brainer as he enters his prime while not having a set role in Carolina’s scheme.
As for Marshall, the team has already given him permission to seek a trade. The former LSU receiver was expected to make a leap this season, but has been a non-factor in the offense. It seems to be a matter of when, as opposed to if these two will be sent away.
Most Exciting Rookie: Bryce Young
This may come as a surprise to some, but there’s two main factors playing into this selection. The first of which is that there haven’t been any true standout rookies on the team so far. Second, and most importantly, is that there’s still plenty of reason to be excited about Bryce Young. The rookie quarterback has struggled, but for obvious reasons.
Aside from the success of Thielen, nothing is going correctly around him. He hasn’t played up to the level of C.J. Stroud or Anthony Richardson, but it’s hard to imagine they’d be much better in the Carolina offense. Young has shown major flashes of potential, and managed games fairly well given the adverse conditions. With only five games under his belt, Young still has plenty of time to adjust to NFL football.
Most Underwhelming Player: Miles Sanders
There are plenty of players that could be given this honor, but Miles Sanders stands out above the rest. Sanders was brought in to ignite the run game, but has been outperformed by Chuba Hubbard, who was already with the team prior to Sanders’ signing. Sanders has rushed for 52 less yards than Hubbard on seven more attempts, while also having lost two fumbles. There was also an expectation that he could play a major role in the passing game, but we have yet to see it.
Sanders hasn’t been awful, but as of now his signing seems unnecessary. He’s been outperformed by a back who was already with the team, and doesn’t seem to be bringing much to the offense. There’s still time to turn it around once he returns from injury, but the starting job could be Hubbard’s if things don’t change soon.
Most Slept On: Kamu Grugier-Hill
To finish things off on a positive note, we’ll talk about a player who has quietly impressed this season. Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill was a sixth-round pick out of Eastern Illinois in 2016, who has bounced around the league ever since. He joined the Panthers in April of this year, marking his sixth NFL team.
Grugier-Hill wasn’t expected to play a major role, but has been a difference-maker after a slew of defensive injuries. He has the fifth most tackles on the team with 25, and even grabbed an interception against the Vikings. He’s stepped up as a vocal leader, and has been a pleasant surprise for a team who needs one.
More from The Game Haus:
Stay tuned for additional NFL coverage, and check out more sports and gaming content on The Game Haus!
Featured image courtesy of the Carolina Panthers.
“From Our Haus to Yours“