The Carolina Panthers made a move on Thursday to help bolster a safety position that was lacking depth with the signing of Eric Reid.
The Carolina Panthers made a big splash on their bye week by adding safety Eric Reid, the team announced on Thursday. The safety position has been something of a concern, not in terms of play, but rather the lack of depth.
The team lost their free agent signing Da’Norris Searcy after he suffered two concussions in just over a month and was placed on injured reserve. In the last game against the Bengals, the Panthers had only three safeties on the active roster with Mike Adams, Colin Jones and rookie Rashaan Gaulden.
It is rare for a team to find a talent like Reid at this point of the season but they were able to do just that. The former San Francisco 49ers was a first round pick in 2013 and was a starter right from the start.
He was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie and has played 70 games over five seasons with the 49ers. He currently has 319 total tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, and 10 interceptions.
This was a perfect time for the Panthers to add a player like Reid as they are currently on their bye and it gives them about 10 days to get him up to speed with this defense. The Panthers coaching staff will likely ease him into the starting lineup and he will rotate with Gaulden in the early stages.
However, he should be the starting safety alongside Mike Adams sooner rather than later. This now gives a veteran duo in the back a Panthers defense that currently ranks 19th in total yards allowed (356.7) and 12th in points allowed (20.0).
Eric Reid will likely make his Carolina Panthers’ debut against the New York Giants in Week 5.