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There have been plenty of contributors to the team's strong start, but here five players have stood out above the rest.
The Carolina Panthers enter their Week 5 bye at 2-2 after a statement 32-26 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football.
Injuries have plagued the team’s start, meaning there have been several players who have stepped up their play or evolved their own games.
There have been plenty of contributors to the team’s strong start, but here five players have stood out above the rest.
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It’s hard to put anyone else at the top.
The offense at the beginning of the season are playing without their two starting tackles (Taylor Moton and Ickey Ekwonu), two starting receivers (Jalen Coker and Xavier Leggete), and backup running back in Jonathan Brooks.
And for the Panthers’ signal-caller, it hasn’t seemed to matter.
Bryce Young has been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks through four games, throwing for 1,268 yards, nine touchdowns and just two interceptions. He leads the league in passing yards and has posted at least 250 passing yards and a touchdown in every game.
His latest performance may have been his best. Young completed 29 of 41 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns in Carolina’s 32-26 win over Detroit.
Great quarterback play has a tendency to elevate a team’s ceiling regardless of injuries or defensive mistakes. If Bryce can stay consistent, the Panthers may be fighting for more than a division title.
McMillan’s second NFL season is off to an impressive start.
The former Offensive Rookie of the Year has 26 catches for 385 yards and two touchdowns through four games.
While beginning the season relatively quiet including a 17-yard performance against the Browns, he exploded against Detroit, catching 14 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns.
McMillan has quickly become one of the most important pieces of Carolina’s offense, especially in the absense of Coker and Legette. His size, catch radius and ability to make difficult catches give Young a reliable target in critical situations.
Hubbard has provided the balance Carolina needs on offense. The 6th-year running back is 10th in the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns and is also quietly averaging 5 yards per carry.
He has rushed for 306 yards through four games and had his best performance of the season against Detroit, carrying the ball 20 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
Hubbard’s ability to consistently move the ball on the ground has been able to pressure off Young and keep defenses from bringing in heavy pressure. His pass-blocking is also underrated, stuffing blitzing linebackers on several occasions during big-time plays.
Lloyd has arguably been the Panthers’ most important additions in the offseason.
The All-Pro linebacker has 31 tackles through three games played and finished Sunday’s win over Detroit with nine tackles.
Against the Falcons, Lloyd put up one of the best linebacker performances in recent memory:
With Carolina dealing with injuries throughout the defense, Lloyd has provided consistency at linebacker and has quickly established himself as one of the unit’s leaders.
Princely Umanmielen’s progression is becoming one of the most intriguing storylines for the Panthers’ defense in the early season, emerging as one of Carolina’s most dangerous pass rushers.
The second-year edge rusher has recorded 3 sacks, 11 tackles, 3 TFL, 4 QB hits and 14 pressures through four games according to PFF.
Umanmielen recorded his third sack of the season against Detroit on the final drive, a major factor in the defenses game-winning stop.
With the absence of Nic Scourton, Umanmielen is starting to look like a legitimate difference-maker up front paired up with Jaelin Phillips and Pat Jones.
5 Biggest Standouts for the Panthers Entering the Bye Week was originally published on wfnz.com
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