CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It wasn’t long after Taylor Heinicke was named the Carolina Panthers’ starting quarterback for today’s home game against the Atlanta Falcons that the jokes began rolling in.
Panthers center Ryan Kalil quipped that he might have to bring down his shotgun snaps so they don’t go flying over the 6-foot quarterback’s head. Running back Christian McCaffrey teased that he’s glad he won’t look so small in the backfield now that Heinicke has taken over for the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Cam Newton.
Heinicke laughed at the remarks, pointing out he’s the same height as the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and the New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees, each a Super Bowl-winning quarterback
“I want to emulate those guys,” Heinicke said.
Heinicke will make the first start of his NFL career in the absence of Newton, who was ruled out by the team at the middle of this past week because of lingering soreness in his right shoulder that made it nearly impossible for the 2015 league MVP to throw the ball more than 15 yards downfield.
The Panthers have completed only nine passes of longer than 20 yards this season and three times have subbed in Heinicke to throw Hail Mary passes because Newton lacked the arm strength to handle the task. That doesn’t mean the Panthers (6-8) will be changing much about their offense against the Falcons (5-9).
“I don’t know if in one or two games you see that being a whole lot different,” Panthers offensive coordinator Norv Turner said. “If the opportunities are there, he is capable of getting the ball down the field.”
While Heinicke has been in the league since 2015, the Atlanta native who played at Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett County before going on to Old Dominion has only thrown five passes as a pro. Still, the Panthers like his potential, which is why they let veteran Derek Anderson exit via free agency last offseason.
Heinicke has been in Turner’s system three years, including two with the Minnesota Vikings as a backup in 2016 and 2017. After he was signed by the Panthers, he spent a lot of time teaching teammates the playbook.
He also has taken the bulk of the snaps in practice this month with Newton mostly resting his aching shoulder between games.
“I think guys are excited to see what he is capable of doing for us,” Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. “I think he wants to prove a lot of the people who believed in him right.”
This NFC South matchup doesn’t have much meaning with the Falcons already eliminated from playoff contention and the Panthers, who have lost six straight games, hanging on by a thread.
As for Atlanta’s offense, there haven’t been many bright spots for a unit decimated by injuries to both starting guards and running back Devonta Freeman, but quarterback Matt Ryan sees hope in the wide receivers working behind veterans Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu.
Rookie Calvin Ridley leads the team with eight touchdown catches and is second with 56 receptions. Ryan also noted progress made by Marvin Hall and Russell Gage, who had two catches last Sunday as the Falcons ended a five-game losing streak with a 40-14 win against the Arizona Cardinals.
“The young guys’ improvement and development have been a bonus for us,” said Ryan, who is the 12th quarterback to win 100 games with one team since the AFL-NFL merger and is tied with Joe Montana for the 11th-most wins with one team during that span.
With the Panthers having collapsed this season and their roster starting to grow old, this could be the last home game for a few popular veterans who have spent most or all of their careers with Carolina.
Center Ryan Kalil has already said he is retiring after the season, while linebacker Thomas Davis and defensive end Julius Peppers are working on expiring contracts. Tight end Greg Olsen’s future is also up in the air after he missed large portions of this season and last with a broken foot, and cornerback Captain Munnerlyn is a potential casualty of the salary cap.
Rivera said he would like all his veterans back, but those aren’t his decisions to make.
The Carolina players who do appear in today’s game and the regular-season finale at New Orleans will try to make their best impression.
The Panthers placed outside linebacker Shaq Thompson and kicker Graham Gano on injured reserve this past week with their playoff hopes all but over. Jermaine Carter will get a shot to play in Thompson’s spot, and Chandler Catanzaro will continue to handle kicking duties for the Panthers, something he has done the past two games.
There are similar stakes for the Falcons, who are playing for pride and have been frustrated by a year gone very wrong.
It’s bad enough they’re headed to a losing mark after back-to-back playoff appearances, including a spot in the Super Bowl after the 2016 season. It’s worse they will have to watch other teams play in their Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the city hosts the Super Bowl in February.
Atlanta coach Dan Quinn had a grim response when told the NFC’s representative in the Super Bowl this season – possibly the rival Saints – will practice at the Falcons’ facility in suburban Flowery Branch.
“I guess I’m most disappointed we won’t be the ones playing and practicing at our site,” he said before walking out, ending his news conference Thursday.