Carolina Panthers: 3 Standouts vs. Buccaneers in Week 2

2. TE Greg Olsen

In last week’s 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers’ running back Christian McCaffrey rolled up 209 yards from scrimmage 29 touches and ran for two touchdowns. On Thursday night, the 2018 Pro Bowler was shackled by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense.

McCaffrey finished with just 18 touches, good for only 53 combined yards. And an attempt to run wide left on fourth-and-1 at the Buccaneers’ 2-yard line on a direct snap with less than two minutes came up short, a big play in the team’s 20-14 setback.

Quarterback Cam Newton still hasn’t looked like his former Pro Bowl self this season to date. But veteran tight end Greg Olsen enjoyed a nice evening against the Bucs. For the second consecutive game, he was targeted nine times. But after catching just four passes for 36 yards vs. Los Angeles, the 13-year veteran and three-time Pro Bowler snared six throws for a team-high 110 yards in the disappointing setback.

From 2017-18, the productive performer missed a total of 16 games and finished with a combined 44 catches, good for five scores. Those numbers are nowhere close to what Olsen has produced throughout this career with the Panthers. Healthy again, he appears ready for a bounce-back campaign. And he gives Newton another proven option rather than relying on the talented McCaffrey.