There was a point where Hayden Hurst looked like the Carolina Panthers' go-to tight end. 

He signed a three-year, $21.7 million deal during free agency, but much like Miles Sanders, the other Panthers free agent signing, Hurst has struggled to catch on in the game-day tight end rotation. Head coach Frank Reich said it had nothing to do with Hurst's abilities. Instead, the coach gives credit to the rest of the tight end group. 

“That’s just more rotation, more credit to Tommy [Tremble],” Reich said. “He’s playing good football. And we love Hayden. Hayden’s playin’ good football.

“Listen, this is the thing as a coach, we love all our players. And it’s earned every week. Just because you’re named a starter at the beginning of the year, doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed to get all the reps and get all the touches as it goes. This is a meritocracy. That’s the business that we live in, and for all of us, we’re accountable for it day by day.”

Hust, in the Panthers' first win of the season over the Houston Texans, played a total of 22 offensive snaps. 

Tommy Tremble, who caught a touchdown pass, played 54% of offensive snaps. It is safe to say Week 8 was a season-low for Hurst. 

But Reich remained uncommitted to one tight end over the other. He sees the rotation as a week-to-week affair, meaning, though Hurst is slogging through a difficult year, one good week can push him back to the top of the depth chart.