The Panthers also have second-year man Brenton Bersin, former Packer Jarrett Boykin and four undrafted rookies led by speedy undersized South Carolina product Damiere Byrd. Benjamin was carted off the field with an apparent left leg injury. He tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and will be out for the season. Carolina Panthers wide receiver was carted off the field during a scrimmage with the Miami Dolphins Wednesday. During his rookie season he was Newton’s favorite target and pulled in 73 catches for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns.
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When the 6-foot-5, 245 pound Benjamin arrived at training camp last summer it was clear he was going to be a difference maker.
Funchess was Michigan’s leading receiver with 62 catches for 733 yards and four touchdowns last season after playing tight end his first two years. Carter would certainly help, but he might not be the best option for them – I think getting Reggie Wayne as a free agent would be a better move for Carolina’s situation right now than getting Duron Carter in a trade. Tripp injured his ankle during last week’s Preseason Week 1 game against the Chicago Bears, Parker was activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list this week as he recovers from foot surgery, and Misi has been dealing with a calf injury recently. I’m not ready to say he will be as good as Kelvin, but look for him to turn a few heads this season and do a admirable job replacing KB’s production.
On Wednesday morning, Panthers second-year wide receiver and breakout star Kelvin Benjamin went down on a non-contact play during practice while making a cut.
If you haven’t had your fantasy draft yet, I have two pieces of advice for you: first off, I would strongly recommend against drafting Benjamin late just in case the doctors made a mistake.
Marc Dopher watched Benjamin go down and said he was shaken up as he was taken to the locker room. While the Panthers improved the depth in their receiving corps this offseason, no one on the roster can do what the 6-foot-5 Benjamin does. But none of them really demanded the same kind of attention that Benjamin did. That leaves the Panthers with players like Corey Brown, Devin Funchess, Jerricho Cotchery, and Ted Ginn at the wide receiver position – in other words, it’s not good. “You’ve got to keep him on the path that he’s been on and where that takes him as the season goes we’ll find out”.
In terms of replacements at wide receiver, the Panthers don’t have much.
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“There’s never pressure”, Funchess said.
