Carolina Panthers sign running back, add offensive depth

The Carolina Panthers have signed Ameer Abdullah, according to NFL insider Dov Kleiman. The veteran running back spent three and a half seasons with the Detroit Lions before joining the Minnesota Vikings in 2018. Abdullah was cut this week, leaving him available for the injury plagued Panthers.

Abdullah has 1,438 career rushing yards with six touchdowns, adding 593 receiving yards and six touchdowns. His career was interrupted by early injuries, which limited him to backup snaps over the last seven seasons.

With star running back Christian McCaffrey back on the injury report, rookie running back Chuba Hubbard returns to the spotlight for the Carolina Panthers. Needing depth, they called on Abdullah to create balance, helping figure out the offensive woes of recent weeks.

The Panthers started the season 3-0 with wins over the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans. Since then, they are 0-3 with losses against the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings. With the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons ahead, now is the time for Carolina to regain its form.

Finding an offensive identity

The Carolina Panthers have been in an offensive rut ever since running back Christian McCaffrey went down in their week three victory against the Houston Texans. Panthers head coach Matt Rhule understands his team is struggling to find an offensive identity without McCaffrey. Now he must learn to create a new one without his star running back.

“I think right now, we have to figure out, especially with Christian out and some other guys out, what our identity is,” said Rhule. “We’re trying to figure out exactly how to win as best we can.”

It’s tough to formulate an offensive identity when missing key pieces. It’s made even arduous when your offensive line struggles to block. During the Panthers’ current three-game losing streak, Sam Darnold has been hit 23 times and sacked 12. With a lack of time in the pocket, the Panthers quarterback has struggled to find a rhythm in the last three games.

Unfortunately for the Carolina Panthers, the hits keep on coming. Against the Vikings, they lost two more playmakers in receivers Terrence Marshall Jr. and Brandon Zylstra. Marshall is currently in concussion protocol after taking a hit from Viking safety Xavier Woods in the second quarter. It’s uncertain if Marshall will be able to clear concussion protocol before the Panthers’ next game in New York. Zylstra also left in the first half against the Vikings with a left hamstring injury.