If you’re looking for some signs of encouragement from the Carolina Panthers’ Week 5 loss to the Detroit Lions, you’re probably not going to find them here. But what you will find is, perhaps, some interesting insight into how the team’s new staff is looking to function through their early struggles.
So, here are the top takeaways from Sunday’s snap counts:
Low mileage
While the Panthers could be trying to protect their pricey free-agent signing from worsening his lingering groin injury, the fact that said pricey free-agent signing has played like anything but a pricey free-agent signing is an issue. Oh, and that pricey free-agent signing was out-snapped by a fourth-round pick of the previous regime for the second straight week.
Between Weeks 4 and 5, Hubbard picked up 73 looks to Sanders’ 64. He also recorded more rushing attempts (nine to seven) and more targets (two to one) on Sunday.
Sanders turned his 33 snaps into 32 yards and a fumble.
Firmly No. 4
If it wasn’t clear before, then it’s certainly clear now—Terrace Marshall Jr. is entrenched at the fourth spot of the wideout pecking order.
Despite tallying team-highs in targets (10) and receptions (nine) last week, Marshall Jr. played zero snaps on Sunday. He gave way to rookie Jonathan Mingo, who missed that Week 4 loss to the Vikings due to a concussion.
Many wondered if the 2021 second-rounder would eventually find himself a defined role with a new coaching staff. Well, he has—and unfortunately, it’s not the one he probably hoped for.
Taking it on the Chinn
Speaking of undefined roles, Chinn saw quite a regression in his snaps—going from a 64.6-percent share in Week 4 to a 30-percent share in Week 5. And save for last year’s Week 4 outing where he made an early exit due to a hamstring injury, his 18 snaps were the fewest of his four-year NFL career.
He didn’t make the most of those either, as Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta hit him up for 43 yards and a touchdown on two receptions.
