Panthers 2021 season opener countdown: 97 days to go
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We’re counting down the days until the Panthers kick off the 2021 season.
As we count down the days until the Panthers officially kick off the 2021 season, let’s take a look at No. 97, defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos.
Gross-Matos was something of a tease for Panthers fans during his rookie season. After being drafted No. 38 in 2020 he flashed potential when healthy, but injuries hampered much of his first year in the NFL. We saw a little bit of the impact player he can become, but not quite enough to be totally convinced he’ll develop into a regular force off the edge.
The Panthers invested an early second round pick in the 6-foot-5, 265-pound former Penn State star after he put up 17 sacks over his final two college seasons. He is a core part of Carolina’s defensive youth movement and could be the long-term Robin to Brian Burns’ Batman.
Yetur’s rookie season got off to a slow start. After playing just 16 snaps in Week 1 he missed Week 2 with concussion symptoms. He returned to play in Weeks 3-4 only to suffer an ankle injury in Week 5. He then missed the Panthers next three games before coming back in Week 9 while only playing 13 defensive snaps. Add all that up and through Week 9 the Panthers prized second round pick had just seven tackles, one quarterback hit, and one sack. It was a frustrating start to the season.
But once Week 10 rolled around we finally got to see some of Gross-Matos’s potential. Over Carolina’s final seven games, all of which Yetur started, he registered 17 tackles, five quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. Per Pro Football Reference he ended his rookie season with 24 tackles, 12 quarterback pressures, six quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks. PFF gave him a ho-hum 54.7 grade. Those aren’t Pro Bowl numbers, but they show he belongs in the NFL.
While Gross-Matos carved out a starting role to end his rookie season last year, Carolina enters 2021 with much more depth at defensive end. The Panthers signed 26-year-old edge rusher Haason Reddick, who is coming off a 12.5 sack season, to a one-year, $6 million “prove-it” deal. Carolina also signed Morgan Fox, a serviceable veteran who put up six sacks in 2020 with the Rams.
Last year the door was wide open for Yetur to assume a starter’s role, which he did after battling through some early injuries. Things will be different in 2021. If Gross-Matos is going to have a breakout Year 2 campaign, he’s going to need to earn every snap on a much deeper and more talented Panthers roster.
We’re counting down the days until the Panthers kick off the 2021 season.
As we count down the days until the Panthers officially kick off the 2021 season, let’s take a look at No. 97, defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos.
Gross-Matos was something of a tease for Panthers fans during his rookie season. After being drafted No. 38 in 2020 he flashed potential when healthy, but injuries hampered much of his first year in the NFL. We saw a little bit of the impact player he can become, but not quite enough to be totally convinced he’ll develop into a regular force off the edge.
The Panthers invested an early second round pick in the 6-foot-5, 265-pound former Penn State star after he put up 17 sacks over his final two college seasons. He is a core part of Carolina’s defensive youth movement and could be the long-term Robin to Brian Burns’ Batman.
Yetur’s rookie season got off to a slow start. After playing just 16 snaps in Week 1 he missed Week 2 with concussion symptoms. He returned to play in Weeks 3-4 only to suffer an ankle injury in Week 5. He then missed the Panthers next three games before coming back in Week 9 while only playing 13 defensive snaps. Add all that up and through Week 9 the Panthers prized second round pick had just seven tackles, one quarterback hit, and one sack. It was a frustrating start to the season.
But once Week 10 rolled around we finally got to see some of Gross-Matos’s potential. Over Carolina’s final seven games, all of which Yetur started, he registered 17 tackles, five quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. Per Pro Football Reference he ended his rookie season with 24 tackles, 12 quarterback pressures, six quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks. PFF gave him a ho-hum 54.7 grade. Those aren’t Pro Bowl numbers, but they show he belongs in the NFL.
While Gross-Matos carved out a starting role to end his rookie season last year, Carolina enters 2021 with much more depth at defensive end. The Panthers signed 26-year-old edge rusher Haason Reddick, who is coming off a 12.5 sack season, to a one-year, $6 million “prove-it” deal. Carolina also signed Morgan Fox, a serviceable veteran who put up six sacks in 2020 with the Rams.
Last year the door was wide open for Yetur to assume a starter’s role, which he did after battling through some early injuries. Things will be different in 2021. If Gross-Matos is going to have a breakout Year 2 campaign, he’s going to need to earn every snap on a much deeper and more talented Panthers roster.
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