Christian McCaffrey Not Expected to Play in Panthers' Preseason Games, Per Matt Rhule

The team is focused on keeping the running back healthy, as he played three games in the 2020 season and seven in the 2021.

Head coach Matt Rhule told reporters the plan is to hold McCaffrey out of preseason games and take a different approach at practice.

He reached out to different running backs, including Marshall Faulk, to ask advice on how to stay on the field, as he is also doing what he can to stay healthy.

He played three games in September last year. He missed the entire month of December and finished with

It was a far cry from when he was the top player in the league in 2019: he had 1,387 rushing yards, 1,005 receiving yards and 19 total touchdown.

Injuries have prevented him from building on that performance, which made him a fantasy football darling, but he will likely be the focus of the offense for the foreseeable future since he is just 25 years old.

Carolina has finished in third or fourth place in the division in each of the last four years, so it will need to have a healthy and playing Christian McCaffrey if it is going to compete with the likes of the New Orleans Saints.

Sam Darnold has his own performance-related question marks under center, so he is all the more important.

D.J. Moore will open up the aerial attack with the presence of McCaffrey, who will force defenders into the box and help open up the offense with his consistent arm.

It will be worth it if that can happen.