Bewerbungen » Panthers 2018 season opener countdown: 22 days to go W

e are 22 days away from the beginning of the Carolina Panthers 2018 season. That means today we take a closer look at running back Christian “Deuce Deuce” McCaffrey.Christian McCaffrey Best DJ Moore Jersey , Running backBioHeight: 5’11”Weight: 205 lbsAge: 22College: StanfordNFL Experience: 2 yearsI’m a big fan of Deuce Deuce’s name coming up on the countdown the day after the Panthers’ preseason game against the Miami Dolphins yesterday. We’ve spent a lot of time wondering about McCaffrey’s role in 2018 after a less than statistically impressive 2017. Following a change in offensive coordinators, the release of the Panthers’ all-time leading rusher, Jonathan Stewart, and then the signing of 1000 yard rusher CJ Anderson we were left with far more questions than answers. Last night gave us a lot of information.The first and second team offense was all but run through the running backs and McCaffrey was the first guy up. CJ Anderson played second fiddle, but saw a similar workload once he was on the field.Fortunately, Turner did show that he is not trying to be simple, run heavy team in 2018. Half of the plays that featured running backs getting the ball were passing plays. There is still every chance that the Panthers’ offense is going to be both versatile and modern. I assumed that focus on the running back position in this game was a preseason oddity wherein the coaches wanted to get a good look at their guys doing specific things. Otherwise, McCaffrey being the subject of 10 plays out of 25 run by the first team offense seemed a little too much. However, Rivera is now on the record saying he wants to see McCaffrey get 25 to 30 touches a game. I don’t know if that is either realistic or wise, given the large cast of weapons and the state of the offensive linemen on the Panthers’ roster Adult DJ Moore Jersey , but we are only 22 days from finding out. Jordan Wilkins figured the days of working in an understaffed backfield ended at rookie minicamp.A spate of injuries proved him wrong.When the Indianapolis Colts returned to practice Saturday, the running back took a quick glance around the field and suddenly realized only three other people were around — rookie Nyheim Hines, veteran Christine Michael and former NFL star Tom Rathman, who now serves as the Indianapolis Colts' running backs coach.Of course, it's not an ideal work environment, but right now the Colts don't have a choice."Rookie mini-camp, it happened real quick and we were struggling through that," Wilkins said, recalling the last time he worked with such a small group of backs. "It kind of sucks that we're back at that point. It is more of a workload, but I'm not worried about that."Instead Limited Donte Jackson Jersey , the fifth-round draft pick sees it as an opportunity to show the Colts they found a value pick and a potential workhorse.He's not the only trying to prove his worth.Hines, a fourth-round pick, hopes to change the coaches' perception after struggling in the preseason opener. Michael is trying to find a more stable home on his fifth team in six seasons and after missing all of last year with an offseason knee injury.And, at the moment, it remains unclear whether help may be on the way.How did the Colts find themselves in such a predicament?Marlon Mack, the hand-picked successor to Frank Gore, left Thursday's game with a hamstring injury and is listed as week to week. Backup Robert Turbin also left the game with an ankle injury and he, too, is considered week to week. Josh Ferguson, a backup each of the past two seasons Elite Donte Jackson Jersey , still hasn't returned to practice since hurting his hamstring on the third day of training camp.Reich said Ferguson could return this week."You don't like just having three guys," coach Frank Reich said when asked if Indy needs another body. "But we've got a couple of guys dinged, so we'll have to see how things play out."Fortunately, Wilkins seems well-suited to carry a big workload.Listed at 6-foot-1, 216 pounds, he became the fifth player in Ole Miss history to top the 1,000-yard mark with his breakout 2017 season. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry, demonstrated an ability to catch passes out of the backfield and convinced the Colts to take him in the fifth round.So far, he's outperformed the expectations.On Thursday, he rushed six times for 21 yards Game Donte Jackson Jersey , caught one pass for seven yards and sealed the 19-17 victory by spinning away from a Seattle defender for a 3-yard run on third-and-1. Reich called it a winning play Friday, shortly after announcing the injuries to Mack and Turbin.Hines is a different kind of player. At 5-9, 198 pounds, he possesses sprinter speed and can line up in multiple spots.Reich, who served as Philadelphia's offensive coordinator last year, envisions Hines playing the same kind of role as Darren Sproles and he has a similar resume.At North Carolina State, Hines was both a receiver and punt returner and was called into emergency duty as a running back, too."My freshmen year I played receiver and we had some redshirt guys and literally all four running backs were hurt except for one, so I had to go play running back and there were two guys in the game," Hines said. "That was a really interesting bowl game for us."Michael was solid in the Colts' preseason opener and could start next Monday night against Baltimore.But unless Donte Jackson Womens Jersey , general manager Chris Ballard makes a move or Ferguson gets healthy, these three backs will have to do the Colts' heavy lifting."That's the goal to be the starter, but that's up to the coaches and it's out of my control," Wilkins said. "Whatever role I'm given, I'll be excited about and will play to my highest ability."Notes: The Colts signed defensive end Ryan Delaire and released safety Shamarko Thomas, who was ejected from Thursday's game for an illegal hit. ... Andrew Luck did not participate in Saturday's light workout — as planned. He is expected to return to the field Sunday. ... Starting safeties Clayton Geathers and Malik Hooker took part in team drills Saturday when the Colts were not in pads. Both are coming off of knee surgery.