CHARLOTTE, N.C. – There is no question Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold misses running back Christian McCaffrey. His statistics are significantly worse the past three games without him than they were the first three, and he’ll be without the fifth-year back for at least two more games.
But don’t forget the defense has been without linebacker Shaq Thompson for two games and cornerback Jaycee Horn the past three.
Playing without them has as much, if not more, to do with three-game losing streak for Carolina (3-3), which started the season 3-0, as what’s happening on offense.