Carolina Panthers

Kelvin Benjamin: Big Picture Precedent

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The return of Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was thought to be a welcome offensive addition but has instead recently been the focal point of controversy…

News broke during the Carolina Panthers training camp last season that former first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin had been injured and immediately the season appeared in doubt. Benjamin was coming off a stellar rookie campaign where he set franchise records in catches (73), yards (1,008), and touchdowns (9) by a rookie.

Soon after it was announced that Benjamin had suffered a torn ACL and would not return in 2015. Despite the loss and questions surrounding quarterback Cam Newton and his wide receivers, Carolina went 15-1 before losing the Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos.

As 2016 began, Benjamin’s return was viewed as a welcome addition to an already potent offense. Picking up where he left off, Benjamin caught 13 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns during the first two weeks of the season. However, in a Week 3 game against Minnesota, Newton failed to even target Benjamin.

He has been frustrated of late losing a game deciding fumble to Kansas City prior to a sideline outburst in Oakland. Sunday his effort was called into question despite head coach Ron Rivera standing up for his player against the media. Kelvin Benjamin isn’t the only one to be frustrated by the 2016 Carolina Panthers.

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Benjamin is the latest focal point in a season that had Super Bowl Champion expectations but will end with no playoffs and possibly a losing record.

The missing piece from a year ago was expected to be inserted and shine. Forget that Benjamin is a 25 year old kid entering his second NFL season. Forget that he watched from the sidelines as his team played in the biggest game of his life – without him.

Now, healthy enough to perform the Carolina Panthers are 5-8 with him.

By comparison Benjamin is on pace to finish this season with 62 receptions, 941 yards, and six touchdowns. Only 11 catches, 67 yards, and three scores shy of his rookie season production.

It is also important to remember that his current 51 receptions and 765 yards make Benjamin the second leading receiver behind tight end Greg Olsen. Benjamin’s five touchdowns also lead the entire team.

Having played only two seasons of college football, don’t be too quick to judge the young wide out. Only two years into his professional career plenty of time remains for a more thorough analysis.

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