Miles Sanders isn’t the only pricey free-agent signing the Carolina Panthers are having a tough time cashing in on.
Tight end Hayden Hurst, who inked a three-year, $21.7 million this past spring, may have just hit a low point in a low 2023 campaign. The Week 8 victory against the Houston Texans saw the former first-round pick tally zero receptions on two targets.
What may have been just as concerning was Hurst’s playing time. He saw a total of 22 offensive snaps, which accounted for a season-low 33-percent presence.
Tommy Tremble, on the other hand, got the lion’s share at the position. The 23-year-old, who scored his second touchdown in the last three weeks, was in on 36 snaps—a 54-percent mark.
On Monday, head coach Frank Reich was asked if that balance came as a result of the shift in play-calling duties.
“That’s just more rotation, more credit to Tommy,” he replied. “He’s playin’ good football. And we love Hayden. Hayden’s playin’ good football.
“Listen, this is the thing as a coach—we love all our players. And it’s earned every week. Just ’cause you’re named a starter at the beginning of the year, doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed to get all the reps and get all the touches as it goes. This is a meritocracy. That’s the business that we live in and for all of us, we’re accountable for it day by day.”
Through seven games, Hurst has recorded just 14 receptions for 116 yards and a score.
