The Carolina Panthers are continuing to develop their team identity under head coach Dave Canales, with a clear focus on building a strong running game. The organization has invested in multiple running backs over the past year, including extending Chuba Hubbard’s contract and signing Rico Dowdle as a free agent. Jonathon Brooks, selected in the second round last year, is still recovering from an ACL injury.
Despite already having depth at the position, general manager Dan Morgan chose to draft Trevor Etienne in the fourth round this year. Morgan described Etienne as “a really good change of pace back for us,” during an interview on the Panthers Television Network broadcast. He added, “He catches the ball extremely well out of the backfield. He’s different than Chuba. He’s different than Rico, but I think it’s a really good three guys that we have right there.”
Etienne demonstrated his abilities during Thursday night’s preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first quarter, he broke off a 28-yard run by reacting quickly to defenders and making use of his agility after being redirected by a tackle attempt.
“So one of the D-linemen grabbed me and his momentum throughout the tackle just, you know, took me back to the left, and I just kind of went with the momentum of the tackle and just was able to make a play off of it.
“It’s really just reacting at that point, like you have your pre-snap reads, you know, your landmarks, and throughout the play, but once everything gets cloudy and it gets fuzzy, you’re just reacting to the defenders at that point.”
Once he found open space along the sideline, Etienne accelerated for a sizable gain and commented on his speed afterward.
“I feel like,” he smirked, “I feel like I’m 4.3, but you know what the numbers say.”
Etienne finished with three carries for 39 yards in addition to contributing on special teams with an 18-yard kick return and a 10-yard punt return.
Head coach Dave Canales praised Etienne’s approach: “Trevor, just, I think just taking what’s there,” Canales said about what sets Etienne apart during training camp. “I think being a reliable catcher in the return game, you know he’s shown a lot of value that way, and so I’m just excited for what he can do for us on this team.”
Etienne noted that his size differentiates him from Hubbard and Dowdle: “I feel like both of those guys are bigger backs,” explained Etienne. “I’m a smaller back; you know. I feel like I can make it through places they might not be able to—just that little wiggle—that little extra by being smaller than those guys.
“And it’s a lot I really learned from those guys and really take into my game that helps me be able to be more diverse in it.”
The Panthers will finalize their roster next week before preparing for their season opener against Jacksonville.
