The Carolina Panthers limped to a 7-9 finish in 2018 largely due to franchise quarterback Cam Newton suffering from a shoulder injury that severely limited his ability to throw deep. The Panthers wisely—albeit a few weeks too late—shut him down for the final two games of the regular season. During those final two games, the Panthers cycled through three backup quarterbacks: Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen and Garrett Gilbert.
Heinicke played in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons and suffered an elbow injury in the first half.