Bryce Young and passing game aren't only reasons for Panthers misery

It's easy to blame No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and the Panthers' pitiful passing game for Carolina's  1-8 record, but there's another culprit: a lousy running game. 

Last season, despite trading star back Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers, the team's running game remained effective. With D'Onta Foreman and his 914 rushing yards leading the way, Carolina averaged 130 yards per game rushing (10th in NFL).

Heading into the 2023 season, the Panthers seemed intent on leaning heavily on the running game – a wise call for a team starting a rookie QB in Young.

"I know we can run the football," Frank Reich said at his introductory news conference after being hired as head coach near the end of January.

So far, that hasn't been the case. Carolina's running game has plummeted to 90.3 yards per game this season (25th).

The Panthers could have re-signed Foreman to a value deal, but they allowed him to join the Chicago Bears for a one-year, $2 million deal (per Spotrac). Then Carolina signed free-agent RB Miles Sanders, who was coming off a season in which he rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns for the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. 

The signing appeared reasonable ($25.4 million over four years), but Sanders has struggled in Carolina (224 rushing yards, one rushing TD, two lost fumbles). Now his grip on the starting job is slipping.

In Thursday's 16-13 loss to the Chicago Bears, Sanders had only two carries for minus-five yards. Undrafted second-year pro Raheem Blackshear also had two carries (for seven yards). Chuba Hubbard led Carolina with nine carries for 23 yards. 

Foreman, meanwhile, gained 80 yards rushing for Chicago and scored the winning touchdown against his former team. 

The Panthers are preaching patience when it comes to Young and the current roster. Outside of Adam Thielen (68 receptions, 652 receiving yards, four receiving TDs), the team's receiving corps has done little. Against the Bears – who are last in the NFL in sacks – a porous offensive line allowed three sacks and nine QB hits.

The fan base is restless – and rightfully so. Under owner David Tepper, who purchased the team in 2018, Carolina has yet to reach the playoffs and the Panthers have made a number of strange decisions – from releasing Cam Newton and signing a mediocre-at-best Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year, $63M deal in 2020 to hiring Matt Rhule as head coach on a seven-year contract.

Young still has time to become a franchise quarterback, but without a viable running game, the team will suffer significant growing pains. The schedule, meanwhile, brings no relief. In Week 11, the Panthers play host to a ferocious Dallas Cowboys defense.