Already reeling from a 1-3 start, the Panthers on Friday made one of their most surprising in-season releases in recent memory.
According to a league source, Carolina cut cornerback Bené Benwikere five days after he struggled to cover wideout Julio Jones, who had a record-setting Sunday.
The Panthers planned to have James Bradberry shadow Jones, but when the rookie exited early with a toe injury, Benwikere became the corner primarily responsible for covering arguably the league's top wideout.
Jones finished with 12 receptions for 300 yards, the sixth-most all-time for a receiver and the most ever for a Panthers' opponent. Jones's biggest plays were a 53-yard catch in the second quarter and a 75-yard touchdown in the fourth, which both came after he sprinted past Benwikere.
It sounds like the Panthers' decision sounds was purely performance-related. According to Pro Football Focus, Benwikere gave up all but 72 of Jones's 300 yards. Benwikere didn't help his case when he admitted his conditioning wasn't where it needed to be four games into the season.
"I started out doing well, but after that, I just started to get tired, get out of breath," Benwikere said after the game. "That's something for me, definitely me, most of the time I rotate. I just need to take it upon myself to do some extra running after practice."
Benwikere, who broke his leg just above the ankle when trying to tackle Jones last December, was limited throughout spring workouts. He began training camp on the PUP list, and when he returned, he was behind rookie Daryl Worley on the depth chart. But Benwikere regained a starting role on the outside when Worley struggled in the preseason.
To fill Benwikere's roster spot, the Panthers promoted Zack Sanchez from the practice squad, a source said. The fifth-round pick was a surprising release during final cuts.
With Bradberry missing his third straight practice Friday, it looks like he won't play Monday night against the Bucs. That leaves Sanchez, Worley, Robert McClain and Teddy Williams to deal with Tampa's top receiver, Mike Evans.
Why not just use him as they did last year?
Pass rush has not been there to speed up other teams’ passing game, and Benwikere’s flaws are more exposed when he has to take on a broader role. Norman did a LOT to make his fellow DBs lives easier.
I think it’s more like the pass rush did a lot to make the secondary’s lives easier. Norman would not have done much to alter the outcome of that game, especially when he’s not even shutting down Terrelle Pryor. The absence of an effective pass rush (especially up the middle for non-mobile buys like Ryan and Bradford) is the biggest hitch in the defensive giddyup right now.
Pryor went 5-46 on nine targets. I’d say Norman did just fine.
woah, feels like the wheels are coming off a bit.
Do they really feel like someone else can step up and fill his shoes??
He really didn’t have enough talent to at least keep a roster spot as an option for the slot?
Seems like an overreaction. Hate to see DG reacting instead of acting and planning ahead. Another late round pick gone. His drafts are losing their luster. This team is totally self destructing…. sigh.
Seems as though no one has any idea of how to fix things. To go from what we were last season to where we are now is a total travesty! They get rid of players we need and try to put rookies and lesser talented players in their spots. Instead of fixing the obvious, they play all these musical chair games. Politics maybe?? Benwikere hasn’t been at his best, and maybe he does need to go, but when you look at the rest of the roster, a good many of them are not putting their best into it , especially the front line! What I have been seeing and reading lately shows that there is clearly a serious morale problem within the team. Even our “old faithful” are disillusioned and certainly discouraged. Get with it Gettleman, you’re to good to let this continue and you have a great coach in Rivera, but you boys don’t seem to be working together very well.
In Gettleman I trust…..in Gettleman I trust……
Boston is next on the hot seat. Pretty sure they’re looking to move Coleman back into the Free position instead of the Strong, which makes Boston the odd man out (at least as a starter). I wonder if they could/would go Cover 3 w/ Coleman high as the FS, and Shaq as the down low SS/LB w/ TD, Luke, and AJ in certain circumstances?
Maybe Sanchez had progressed that much over the past month and a half.