Rashaad Penny‘s latest bid to put together a healthy campaign has come to an abrupt end. The Panthers announced on Tuesday that they have placed the veteran running back on the reserve/retired list, ending his career. 
Penny entered the league with high expectations as a first-round pick. His Seattle tenure began with 24 appearances across the 2018 and ’19 seasons. He did not log a heavy workload during that time, but he scored six total touchdowns while displaying impressive efficiency on the ground. The years since then have been marred by injuries, however.
The 28-year-old was limited to just three games in 2020, and his Seahawks future was in doubt entering the following campaign. Penny’s best season came in 2021, when he scored six touchdowns while leading the NFL with a 6.3 yards per carry average. That performance earned him a one-year, $5.75MM deal with Seattle, but that pact did not produce the desired outcome. Penny had a strong start to the year in 2022, but a major injury (including a fractured fibula) limited him to just five contests.
Penny had a brief stint in Philadelphia last season, logging only 11 carries. His free agent market was understandably limited this spring, although the Seahawks showed interest in a reunion. Seattle has made recent draft investments in the backfield with Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, and that tandem will remain intact for 2024. Penny inked a deal with the Panthers in May, but his time in Charlotte has already come to an end.
Carolina signed Miles Sanders in free agency last offseason, but he struggled mightily during his debut Panthers season. Sanders still has a future with the team, but he will continue to have competition for playing time during training camp. Chuba Hubbard and second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks are set to handle the bulk of the load for Carolina this season. Rather than attempting to catch on with a new team, meanwhile, Penny will hang up his cleats.
The San Diego State product will end his career with 46 combined regular and postseason appearances to his name. Penny accumulated just over $17MM in career earnings, and he will now turn his attention to his post-playing endeavors.
Granted, his best stretch of NFL play came against some lousy defenses late in 2021, but Penny was electric with the ball in his hands when he was healthy. He never should have been a first round pick, but it’s a shame he was never able to show what he could do for an extended period.
Sad to see such an explosive talent get ruined by injuries
Same. It’s Damian Harris and Chris Carson all over again.
There are more than just those two also. Carson was a beast. 7th round pick.
I never said there wasn’t. Plenty of players retire early.
Always a shame when it’s due to injuries.
Facts. Hate to see it