The Carolina Panthers are not wasting time and are already looking for solutions following the devastating injury to Christian McCaffrey.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Panthers are working out Duke Johnson on Friday. A 2015 third-round pick, the 28-year-old spent the first four years of his career with the Cleveland Browns before being dealt to the Houston Texans and playing with the team until last season.
Johnson recently suited up with the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad, though he was released 10 days after the team signed him. In his career, he has started 17 games–10 with the Browns and five with the Texans. As a running back, he has recorded 1,931 yards on 459 carries (with a 4.2 average) while scoring eight touchdowns.
While rookie Chuba Hubbard is the logical replacement for McCaffrey, there is no doubt the Panthers will need depth at the position should their star RB miss more time than expected.
With Christian McCaffrey sidelined with a strained hamstring, the Panthers are working out running back Duke Johnson today, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 24, 2021
Christian McCaffrey sustained a hamstring injury during the second quarter of Thursday's game against the Houston Texans. The injury was non-contact and occurred when he ran for two yards on the left side. The 25-year-old Panthers RB spent some time on the sidelines in the medical tent before he went to the locker room, eventually being ruled out for the rest of the contest.
According to the latest report, McCaffrey will be sidelined for a few weeks, with head coach Matt Rhule noting to ESPN that further tests will determine how long he'll be out.
“They are still doing a bunch of diagnostic testing, so I can't tell you if that is one, two, three or four weeks,” the Panthers tactician said.
It remains to be seen if Carolina will sign Duke Johnson, but the Panthers certainly need to make a move and gain some assurance that they can keep their offense going even without McCaffrey.
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