Panthers could have a surprise weapon waiting in the shadows depending on how Dave Canales plays his cards heading into Week 1
The Carolina Panthers made the smart decision to keep rookie quarterback Haynes King on the 53-man roster going into the season and the decision might mean more than it initially seems.
The Carolina Panthers made multiple questionable decisions when trimming down the roster to 53 players last weekend and one of the moves that made some of those decisions so tough was keeping rookie quarterback Haynes King on the roster.
King had a strong showing in the Hall of Fame Game, but it was the only preseason action he got to put on tape after getting shutdown due to a hamstring injury.
“I think you saw him in the Hall of Fame Game—the way that he operated the offense, led the offense. We felt like he was a guy we didn’t want to expose to waivers,” Panthers GM Dan Morgan explained. “We didn’t wanna let somebody have the opportunity to get him. He’s our type of guy. The type of guy that we wanna work with and continue to develop.”
I think the Panthers’ top executive is underselling why the Panthers actually made this decision. I truly believe they see King as a surprise weapon that they wanted to keep in the shadows for as long as possible going into Week 1.
Could Haynes King actually be used in certain packages against the Chicago Bears in Week 1
Not playing King in the preseason finale was a smart decision by head coach Dave Canales. I get hamstring injuries are something you want to be careful with and not force a player back too early, but I honestly think King could have played in that game and the last update was that King is trending toward being ready for Week 1.
King could easily be designated as the emergency third quarterback going into Week 1, but that would prevent King from entering the game unless Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett both get injured. If the Panthers don’t designate him as the emergency third QB, definitely watch closely because that would signal Canales has a trick up his sleeve.
As soon as King was signed as an undrafted free agent, people pointed out how this guy could be used as a Taysom Hill-like threat in various packages to catch the defense by surprise. And King proved to the staff he’s more than just a physical runner.
“He showed enough to us in practice, in the way he prepares, the way he speaks the language, calls, plays, makes adjustments. This isn’t a 22-year-old rookie. This is a 25-year-old grown man, and with a real process for how he does it,” Canales explained. “Dad’s a coach, loves the game, all the things you would hope for from your third quarterback, and then on top of it, the physical ability, the possibility of using him in different ways, Just because he’s a true 4.47(-second 40-yard dash) guy, and has a lot of speed, which is also important we make sure we remember he’s that type of athlete.”
Long-term vision for Haynes King is exciting, but the short-term impact could be really fun
Mixing in King is not going to be something the Panthers attempt to pull off often, and it might not even be something they unveil in the regular season opener. But, I can guarantee the Panthers will find a way to get this guy on the field in some capacity whether it’s a short-yardage run or some two-QB package to really throw a defense off.
Long-term, Canales envisioned King as a quarterback he can develop behind Bryce Young, and King can offer that without presenting too much of a threat for Young’s position as the starter. But, in the present, King is a talent the Panthers can find a was to use to get the most out of all 53 guys. That’s what makes a good coach a good coach.
“I’m glad he’s here,” Canales added. “I see a future for Haynes in the NFL, and we wanted to have him around. We wanted to be able to continue to be part of his development. And we didn’t really want to risk the the possibility of him being able to go somewhere else, help someone else when we can be here developing him and bringing him along.”
