Christian McCaffrey

The Carolina Panthers reportedly aren't expected to keep star running back Christian McCaffrey beyond the Nov. 1 NFL trade deadline.

Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post reported Wednesday that Carolina trading McCaffrey before the deadline is a "near certainty."

La Canfora noted that between McCaffrey's injury history and the struggles of the 1-5 Panthers, it might behoove them to move their greatest asset as soon as possible.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was among the first to report last week that the Panthers were officially listening to offers for McCaffrey, although he made it clear that it won't be cheap for interested teams to acquire him.

Schefter noted that the Panthers turned down at least two offers and are asking for "significant" compensation in the form of a first-round pick or multiple draft picks.

The 2022 season has been a miserable one for the Panthers amid the firing of head coach Matt Rhule and struggles from quarterback Baker Mayfield, but McCaffrey has been perhaps the lone bright spot.

After appearing in just 10 games combined during the 2020 and 2021 seasons because of injury, the 26-year-old McCaffrey is seemingly back in form and putting up numbers that rival the best running backs in the game.

Through six games, McCaffrey has rushed 85 times for 393 yards and two touchdowns, plus he has caught 33 passes for 277 yards and a score.

While not quite as dominant, McCaffrey's play has been somewhat reminiscent of his special 2019 season, which saw him finish with over 1,000 rushing and receiving yards. He also led the NFL with 403 touches, 2,392 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns.

In a better offense, it isn't outside the realm of possibility that McCaffrey could get even closer to the player he was that season.

McCaffrey is under contract through 2025 and will make about $12 million in each of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 seasons, which would normally be a nonstarter when it comes to trading for an injury-prone running back.

He has a cap hit of only $1.035 million this season, however, meaning any team that wants him could easily fit him under the cap this season and worry about future ramifications later.

The Panthers have already traded wide receiver Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals and seem poised to enter what could be a lengthy rebuild. If they truly want to accelerate that rebuild, trading McCaffrey for draft picks would likely help.

Carolina clearly isn't going anywhere this season and may not be playoff contenders for at least a few years to come, meaning there isn't a ton of incentive to keep McCaffrey around.

Trading a former No. 8 overall draft pick and the face of the franchise may not be a popular move among fans, but it is likely best for the future of the Panthers at this point.

It would not appear as though a Christian McCaffrey trade is imminent, though the potential for a possible deal remains.

According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, the Carolina Panthers are in a "listening mode" when it comes to trade talks for the star running back, while the Buffalo Bills are in a "monitoring mode" regarding the situation:

The Bills had reportedly reached out to the Panthers in the offseason about acquiring McCaffrey but were rebuffed in those efforts.

Once the Panthers chose to fire head coach Matt Rhule, teams reportedly began calling about their players to test the waters on whether the team was about to embark on a firesale, with "the Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Bills are among the teams that have shown varying degrees of interest in McCaffrey," per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

The NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, however, reported last week that the Panthers hadn't engaged in trade talks to this point:

At 1-5, the Panthers already appear to be out of playoff contention, even in the weak NFC South. There is an argument to be made for collecting draft assets and looking toward the future.

But the Panthers would be eating a fair amount of dead cap to deal McCaffrey, for starters:

They also likely would want a serious draft package in return that at least included a first-round pick, the type of price that many teams might not be willing to part with for a running back who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons.

When he's been on the field, he's one of the most dynamic running and pass-catching threats in the NFL. He's been solid in 2022, registering 393 rushing yards and two scores to go along with 33 catches for 277 yards and another touchdown.

Without doubt, he would make an already dangerous Buffalo offense nearly impossible to defend and offer Josh Allen another dynamic weapon. For now, however, it would appear both sides are taking a patient approach to a potential deal that feels unlikely at this point.

Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffrey is focusing on what's in front of him as rumors swirl regarding his future with the team.

Following Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, McCaffrey told reporters all of the trade discourse and machinations are "out of my control."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Saturday the Panthers "are listening to other teams" about a possible swap involving the 2019 All-Pro.

Carolina waved the white flag for this year when it fired head coach Matt Rhule. Now, many are left wondering to what extent general manager Scott Fitterer is willing to tear down the roster to lay the groundwork for the future.

That factor aside, the front office would be foolish not to at least explore what offers are on the table for McCaffrey. He's a 26-year-old running back who was limited to 10 games across 2020 and 2021. The days of him surpassing 2,000 yards from scrimmage might already be over.

For now, the 2017 first-round pick is looking a little more like his old self. Counting Sunday, he has run for 393 yards and two touchdowns while hauling in 33 receptions for 277 yards and one score.

That might only serve to raise his trade value, though. Fox Sports' Peter Schrager reported Sunday that multiple first-round picks might be the price tag for McCaffrey. If at least one first-rounder is the starting point, then it could discourage some of the most logical suitors.

This may not be a situation where the Panthers are desperate to move on and would accept less than expected to make it happen.

The trade deadline will pass at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 1. Until then, McCaffrey might be stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Christian McCaffrey could be playing for another team come next month.

With the Nov. 1 trade deadline approaching, the Carolina Panthers are "listening" to offers for the veteran running back following the firing of head coach Matt Rhule, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, who notes "a deal might not be easy to complete."

"The Panthers rebuffed at least two teams' inquiries into trading for McCaffrey last week and will continue to reject overtures that they don't consider to be significant offers, according to sources," Schefter wrote.

While the Panthers aren't actively shopping McCaffrey, he "is receiving the most significant interest from teams" compared to some of Carolina's other players who might be available, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills are among the teams to have expressed interest in McCaffrey, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

McCaffrey signed a four-year, $64 million extension with the Panthers in April 2020, making him the highest-paid running back in football. However, he hasn't lived up to that contract since, mostly because of injuries.

The 26-year-old appeared in just three games during the 2020 campaign because of a high-ankle sprain, a shoulder injury and a thigh injury. In 2021, he played just seven games before missing the remainder of the season with an ankle ailment.

McCaffrey has appeared in all five games to start the 2022 season, rushing for 324 yards and two touchdowns, but the Panthers are fourth in the NFC South with a 1-4 record and appear headed toward their fifth straight season without a playoff appearance.

McCaffrey, the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, isn't slated to become a free agent until 2026. That being said, any team that wants to acquire him must be willing to make it worth Carolina's while, such as including a high draft pick or multiple draft selections.

It's no surprise the Broncos are one of the teams to have expressed interest in McCaffrey. Javonte Williams is sidelined for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, so the franchise is currently set to move forward with Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone and Latavius Murray.

The 49ers are in a similar situation, with Elijah Mitchell on injured reserve with a sprained MCL. The team has relied on a combination of Jeff Wilson Jr., Tevin Coleman, Jordan Mason and Tyrion Davis-Price.

The Rams' situation is slightly different. Darrell Henderson has served as the team's top running back even though Cam Akers is healthy. Akers has been ruled out for Week 6 because of personal reasons, and it seems that a trade of the veteran running back could be possible.

Buffalo, meanwhile, is lacking a significant playmaker like McCaffrey out of the backfield, relying on Devin Singletary, Zack Moss and James Cook.

If McCaffrey is traded, it likely won't be until closer to the deadline as teams begin to get more desperate entering the second half of the season.

The Carolina Panthers may be forced to turn to backup quarterback P.J. Walker after Baker Mayfield suffered a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided more context:

With Mayfield sidelined, the fantasy value of wide receiver D.J. Moore and running back Christian McCaffrey has been impacted. So, what is their outlook moving forward?

D.J. Moore

Moore's outlook shouldn't change much with Mayfield sidelined, and it may even improve.

The 25-year-old has been one of Carolina's top receivers across four seasons and has posted more than 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last three years.

He posted those numbers while playing with a number of different quarterbacks, including Sam Darnold, Teddy Bridgewater, Walker, Cam Newton, Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen. So, he should have an easy time linking up with Walker, especially given his familiarity with the backup.

It's also not as if Moore was finding success with Mayfield under center.

He has 17 catches for 197 yards and one touchdown through fives games, which is a far cry from his production before Mayfield arrived.

Perhaps Walker can help him rediscover his form.

Christian McCaffrey

Provided he's healthy, McCaffrey will still have a significant impact in the Carolina lineup.

McCaffrey is the team's top running back and unquestioned leader in the backfield. With Mayfield injured, he could see even more snaps and more looks while Walker fills in.

He has already rushed for 324 yards to go with 188 receiving yards this season.

The 26-year-old is one of the best running backs in the league when healthy, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2018 and 2019. However, injuries have derailed his career since then, which has hurt his value to fantasy managers.

Still, he should be in starting lineups as long as he's healthy.

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is active for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter reported Saturday that McCaffrey was "likely to play" in the contest.

McCaffrey, who has recorded 300 total yards and one touchdown through three weeks, missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a thigh injury that left him officially questionable in the team's injury report.

There was some optimism moving forward about his status, though, per The Athletic's Joe Person:

Panthers head coach Matt Rhule notably called the ailment a quad injury and that he wasn't sure when it occurred. McCaffrey played the entirety of his team's 22-14 win over the New Orleans Saints last Sunday and stayed in for the final snap.

The former Stanford standout entered the NFL in 2017 after Carolina selected him with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft.

McCaffrey crushed NFL competition in 2018 and 2019 with 4,357 yards and 32 touchdowns and paced the league with 2,392 total yards and 19 TD in 2019.

However, a high ankle sprain and then a shoulder injury in 2020 forced the 26-year-old to miss all but three games, and then a separate ankle ailment ended his 2021 season after seven matchups.

D'Onta Foreman, Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear comprise the rest of the Panthers' depth chart at running back. Luckily for the Panthers, they won't have to put that depth to the test against Arizona.

The Carolina Panthers are reportedly optimistic running back Christian McCaffrey will play Sunday despite missing back-to-back practices the last two days with a thigh injury, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

"He's kept it close to the vest, but barring a setback, he should be OK," Rapoport said about the Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

The 26-year-old has had trouble staying on the field over the last few years. After appearing in all 48 games over the first three seasons of his career, he played in a combined 10 games in 2020 and 2021. His 2021 season came to an end after seven games because of an ankle injury after a shoulder problem limited him to three games the previous year.

After entering the league as the eighth overall pick in the 2017 draft, the Stanford product quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NFL.

His best season came in 2019 when he recorded 287 carries for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 116 receptions for 1,005 yards and four more scores. Unfortunately, it hasn't been easy for him to reclaim that form.

The Panthers offense has struggled mightily even when McCaffrey was healthy. The team ranks 30th in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage.

If he is unable to play, second-year speedster Chuba Hubbard is likely to assume the lead back duties for Carolina. Five-year veteran D'Onta Foreman is also set to see more action in the Panthers backfield.