Who Should I Start? Rashaad Penny or Javonte Williams

Tuesday, July 30, 11:14 AM

The Carolina Panthers have placed running back Rashaad Penny on the reserve/retired list. Penny, who joined the Panthers this offseason, was set to reunite with head coach Dave Canales, the passing game coordinator during Penny's standout 2021 season with the Seattle Seahawks, and Brad Idzik, now the Panthers' offensive coordinator. Unfortunately, a series of injuries including multiple strains, a torn ACL, and a fibula fracture have hindered Penny's once-explosive performance. Despite rigorous rehab, he struggled to regain the speed that made him a dynamic force in college. Penny's 5.6 yards per carry would be the highest in NFL history if he had sustained it. He also recorded 2,248 rushing yards at San Diego State in 2017, ranking fifth for a single season in NCAA history. The former first-round pick had stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles before signing with the Panthers in May. Penny retires with 1,931 career rushing yards, 13 touchdowns on 348 carries, and 28 receptions for 227 yards.

Monday, May 26, 9:42 AM

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams was seen taking reps with the first team during the portion of last Tuesday's OTAs that was open to the media, according to Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com. Williams signed with Dallas during the offseason, and their crowded backfield now features Williams, Jaydon Blue, and Miles Sanders, among other depth pieces. While this update from Yarrish could provide some insight into the Cowboys' backfield dynamic, it's important to note that the regular season is still several months away and the depth chart is destined to change. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer echoed this sentiment, saying, "It's too early to tell. Last year, we went into it thinking it's going to be by committee and then at the end of the year, we changed that." He noted that Williams and Sanders got an early jump on the competition by signing during the offseason, but even Blue has made impressive progress in the few weeks since being drafted.