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The Carolina Panthers are in the midst of potentially trading for Baker Mayfield, so the quarterback position is still up in the air. As for the rest of the roster, Carolina is set and ready to compete. However, if this franchise hopes to truly get out of the gutter, they'll need some of their players to step up and produce. With that in mind, we take a look at one surprising X-Factor who will emerge for the Panthers in the 2022 NFL season.
It'll be interesting to see how this offense stacks up with the rest of the league. Carolina has some solid weapons in Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore so we should see those two receive the ball plenty throughout the season. Even so, McCaffrey has dealt a ton of injuries recently that have slowed down the Panthers' momentum. If this organization hopes to make some noise in the NFC South, they'll need someone else on the offense to help out.
Considering the quarterback situation is still shaky, perhaps the X-Factor looms in the backfield. If the Panthers can receive consistent production from one of the backups, pressure can be relieved off of McCaffrey's shoulders. Look for Carolina to mix things up in the run game to increase their superstar running back's longevity in the league.
With that said, here is our one surprising X-Factor to emerge for the Panthers in the 2022 NFL season.
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Panthers X-Factor To Emerge In 2022 NFL Season
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D'Onta Foreman burst onto the scene last year for the Tennessee Titans after filling in for an injured Derrick Henry. He proved to be a powerful rusher which allowed the offense to remain dominant on the ground. Although he is 26 years old and fighting for carries with Chuba Hubbard, Foreman has the tools necessary to become a breakout candidate for the Panthers.
He capped off a solid year in Tennessee, as he totaled 566 rushing yards and three touchdowns in just nine games. His 4.3 yards per attempt made him a consistent option in the backfield and he can bring just that to Carolina. If the Panthers utilize Forman correctly, he can surely make an impact on the offense in the 2022 season.
His running style compliments Christian McCaffrey perfectly. While Carolina's superstar is quick and agile, Forman tends to lower the shoulder as a downhill runner. The Panthers will likely look to him in short-yardage situations, but D'Onta Forman can offer much more than that. If the coaching staff plays it outright, they could have one of the best running back duos in the league.
Not to mention, the former Titan can fill in nicely in case McCaffrey suffers another injury. Hopefully, it doesn't come down to that, but D'Onta Foreman was a prolific insurance policy when Derrick Henry missed half of the season last year. He can do the exact same for the Panthers in case Christian McCaffrey falls to injury once again in the 2022 season.
Keep an eye on D'Onta Foreman in training camp. He will have an opportunity to earn the immediate backup role with Chuba Hubbard being his main competition. Between his production from last year and the different playing style he offers, the Panthers may have an X-Factor to help them compete in the NFC South once again.
