Christian McCaffrrey was placed on season-ending injured reserve after hurting his ankle during the Carolina Panthers’ blowout loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 12. The Panthers (5-7) must chase a playoff spot in the NFC without their All-Pro running back.
By season’s end, McCaffrey will have only played 10 of a possible 33 games over the past two years. That is not what the Panthers envisioned when inking him to a four-year, $64 million extension in 2019 that made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
How will the Panthers replace McCaffrey? Rookie tailback Chuba Hubbard will assume the lead duties in the backfield. Hubbard served as the team’s No. 1 running back when he McCaffrey missed five games due to a hamstring injury earlier in the season. He amassed 89 carries for 329 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 13 receptions for 88 yards.
Hubbard is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry in his first pro campaign. Ameer Abdullah is projected to be the primary backup. While Hubbard projects to earn more carries, Abdullah will likely see more work in the passing attack.
Since joining the Panthers in Week 8, Ameer Abdullah has handled 20 targets (14% share). That trails only DJ Moore (37) and CMC (25).
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) November 28, 2021
The Panthers could look to augment their backfield by adding a running back on the open market. Let’s look at four free agent running backs the Panthers could pursue in the wake of McCaffrey’s season-ending injury.
Potential Panthers Running Backs
4. DeAndre Washington
DeAndre Washington appeared in four games during the 2020 NFL season. He appeared in one game with the Kansas City Chiefs and three with the Miami Dolphins. He even started one contest for the Dolphins, producing 35 yards on the ground and 17 more through the air.
Washington is one of the few running backs on the open market to start a game last season, making him a potential (albeit unlikely) option.
The Tennessee Titans gave future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson a shot to lead their backfield after Derrick Henry’s suffered a long-term foot injury.
Peterson appeared in three games (two starts) with the Titans, rushing 27 times for 82 yards and one touchdown. Unimpressed with his results, the Titans released the former superstar.
Adrian Peterson’s lasting moment as a Titan.
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) November 23, 2021
While Peterson was less than the stellar with Tennessee, the Panthers could kick the tires on the 36-year-old. The Panthers might view Peterson as an option on goal-line carries.
2. Todd Gurley
Todd Gurley has yet to play in 2021. The free agent 27-year-old spent the 2020 season with the Atlanta Falcons, logging 195 carries for 678 yards and nine touchdowns.
Gurley’s 3.5 yards per carry mirror the production of Hubbard. At 27, Gurley is still somewhat young for a running back. Plus, he managed to find the end zone nine times on a bad Falcons squad a season ago. He is capable of serving in a committee backfield and the Titans should consider adding the 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
1. Kerryon Johnson
While there are not many great free-agency options, Kerry Johnson might be the best available running back.
Johnson, a former 2018 second-round pick of the Detroit Lions, saw action in one game this season with the San Francisco 49ers. In Week 3, he saw nine special teams’ snaps in Week 3, before he was ultimately released.
Throughout his first three seasons, Johnson averaged 4.3 yards per carry. A strong pass-catching tailback, Johnson collected 32 receptions for 213 receiving yards during his rookie season in 2018 with the Lions. The often-injured 24-year-old appeared in 34 games (16 starts) in three seasons with Detroit.
The Minnesota Vikings are already interested in adding Johnson, who recently worked out for the club.
More from the wire:#Chiefs activated G Kyle Long from PUP, placed RB Jerick McKinnon on IR#Giants activated DB Logan Ryan from Reserve/COVID-19#49ers put WR Devin Funchess on practice squad/injured list#Saints waived WR Kevin White#Vikings worked out RB Kerryon Johnson
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 30, 2021
With star running back Dalvin Cook (shoulder) expected to miss multiple games, the Vikings are looking at available running backs to serve in a backup role behind talented fill-in starter Alexander Mattison.
The Panthers, in a similar position to the Vikings, would be wise to also work out Johnson and strongly consider adding the tailback to their roster.
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