Carolina Panthers: Key players to watch against New York Giants

Eric Reid

While the Carolina Panthers didn’t play last week, they certainly made big news with the signing of free agent safety Eric Reid. This is a move that most were expecting to happen earlier because the safety position looked like a weak spot in a relatively stout defense.

However, the need became even more pressing once Da’Norris Searcy was placed on injured reserve prior to the Bengals game. This left only three healthy safeties on the active roster and the Panthers elected to sign Reid to a one-year deal.

It is hard to find a former Pro Bowl player in the prime of his career during the season but that is exactly what the Panthers will be getting. He is a big safety that can contribute right away, and Ron Rivera believes that as well as he announced on Friday that he would be starting.

The question for Reid doesn’t lie in his physical abilities but rather how much of the playbook will he know by Sunday. If he is forced to think rather than react, it could hinder some of that physical ability. While this is a concern that will diminish in the coming weeks, it is worth watching against the Giants.