The Carolina Panthers may rest running back Christian McCaffrey in their regular-season finale against the New Orleans Saints next weekend, according to Panthers beat writer Bill Voth.
While nothing is set in stone yet, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera says the team “needs to be smart” and that it could be a good time “to evaluate” young players.
It's not like Carolina has anything to play for on Sunday.
The Panthers are just 6-9 and are out of playoff contention, and they won't even get the opportunity to play spoiler for the Saints, as New Orleans clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC after its win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Carolina has already shut down quarterback Cam Newton for the year, as the signal-caller had been dealing with shoulder issues throughout the season.
It has been a very disappointing year for Carolina that began 2018 full of promise.
Carolina started the season with a record of 6-2 and seemed primed to contend in the NFC, but the Panthers then proceeded to lose seven straight games, knocking them out of postseason contention.
This marks just the second time Carolina has missed the playoffs in the last six years.
The Panthers also failed to qualify for the postseason in 2016, but from 2013 through 2015, they made three straight playoff appearances, including a trip to the Super Bowl in 2015-16.
Last season, Carolina won 11 games and lost in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs to the Saints.
McCaffrey got into the record books during the Panthers' loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, however, becoming just the third player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards and 100 receptions in a single season.
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