Robbie Anderson On In-Game Dismissal, Panthers Future

The main Panthers talking point after yesterday remains the events which took place on the sidelines involving wideout Robbie Anderson. After a number of exchanges with receivers coach Joe Dailey, Anderson was sent to the locker room by interim head coach Steve Wilks.

The 29-year-old addressed the matter when speaking to the media post-game, following a discussion with general manager Scott Fitter. His remarks, in turn, followed Wilks’ brief comments, in which he simply said, “no one is bigger than the team.”

“I was honestly confused, and upset by it as I should be,” Anderson said of his removal from the contest in advance of a third down play. “It’s third down, and I’m being taken out of the game. I don’t think I should be OK with that. So I made a comment, why am I being taken out. So that’s that.”

Anderson was on the field for 52% of the Panthers’ snaps in their loss to the Rams, but was not targeted. Carolina’s offense – led by quarterback P.J. Walker for much of the game, then Jacob Eason at the end – was largely centered on running back Christian McCaffrey, and struggled in a similar fashion to previous weeks, something which largely contributed to Matt Rhule‘s firing.

That move, coupled with Anderson’s underwhelming production, has led to increased trade speculation. During his post-game remarks, though, the Temple alum denied that he wanted out of the organization, adding, “I’ve been in trade rumors before. It’s part of the game. I don’t let it affect me.”

Nonetheless, a deal sending Anderson elsewhere is something which “he would welcome,” per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (video link). The Panthers would incur a significant dead money charge in the event of either a trade or release of the veteran, who still has one year remaining on the $29.5MM extension he signed in 2020. They have until November 1 to find a trade partner, so the urgency with which they work on this front will remain an intriguing storyline in the coming days.

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