Who Should I Start? Rashaad Penny or Nyheim Hines

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.

Tuesday, September 9, 9:53 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers announced that they have released running back Nyheim Hines from their practice squad. Hines, now 28 years old, was at his best as a pass-catching back with the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-21. He averaged 53 receptions per year during that span and exceeded the 60 mark twice. His production began tailing off when the Colts traded him to the Buffalo Bills during the 2022 season, though he did return a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns in a Week 18 win over the New England Patriots. Hines hasn't played in a regular-season game since then, though, as he missed both the 2023 and '24 campaigns after suffering a torn ACL in a jet-ski accident. He was unable to earn a roster spot with the Chargers during the preseason this summer, and now the organization will move on without him.