Brady Christensen Left on the Bench Again: Panthers Fans Demand Answers
Carolina Panthers’ Handling of Brady Christensen Raises Eyebrows Among Fans
The Carolina Panthers’ management of offensive lineman Brady Christensen has sparked questions about the team’s commitment to maximizing talent. Christensen, a versatile lineman who can cover multiple positions, signed a one-year extension this offseason, but his role has largely been that of a backup.
In Week 4 against the New England Patriots, when starting guard Chandler Zavala went down with an early injury, the Panthers chose Brandon Walton from the practice squad over Christensen. Although Christensen eventually entered the game and the offensive line performance improved, the decision highlighted how little trust the coaching staff seems to place in him.
Fans have voiced frustration over the decision. Many argue that Christensen’s versatility and talent have not been properly utilized, with the team opting to treat him as a last resort rather than a core contributor. Head coach Dave Canales’ choices in these situations have led to questions about whether Christensen’s full potential is being recognized in Carolina.
Christensen, who has cited family comfort in Charlotte as a reason for staying, now faces uncertainty. With the Panthers’ depth chart and approach, meaningful reps may be limited, potentially prompting Christensen to explore free agency in 2026 for an opportunity to showcase his abilities.
As the Panthers prepare for upcoming games, all eyes will be on how Christensen is deployed, especially if injuries to starters like Zavala occur. Fans hope the team will finally give the 2021 third-round pick the chance to demonstrate the skill set that initially made him a prized draft choice.
Raiders Urged to Reunite Impact Defender with Pete Carroll
The Las Vegas Raiders have seen mixed results on both sides of the football to start through the first month of the Pete Carroll era. The offense has stole the majority of the headlines with both Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty struggling on numerous occasions throughout the first four games of the season, but the defense hasn’t exactly blossomed under this new regime either.
After losing to Marcus Mariota and Caleb Williams in successive weeks, the Raiders are being urged to reunite Carroll with Seattle Seahawks CB Riq Woolen ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline.
Riq Woolen Named a Trade Option for Las Vegas Raiders
Justin Melo of Draft Network sees a path where Carroll could reunite with Seahawks CB Riq Woolen in the near future by suggesting a trade could make sense between Seattle and Las Vegas ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline.
Melo wrote, “Pete Carroll was the Seahawks’ head coach when Woolen was selected in the fifth round. Woolen thrived under his leadership, qualifying for the Pro Bowl as the co-interception leader as a late-round rookie. A reunion with Carroll by joining the Las Vegas Raiders would be beneficial for all parties involved. The 1-3 Raiders are struggling, but general manager John Spytek built the roster to compete this year.
The Raiders are currently giving up 228 passing yards per game, which ranks 23rd in the NFL. More importantly, the Raiders may be without CB Eric Stokes in the near future after he suffered a knee injury against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Melo added, “Carroll acquired multiple ex-Seahawks this offseason, including Geno Smith and Jamal Adams. Carroll has always preferred big cornerbacks. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Woolen would arguably be the best cornerback in Vegas, with Eric Stokes and Kyu Blu Kelly struggling outside.”
Woolen has been a bit of a disappointment in 2025 after having a big impact his rookie year with 63 total tackles and six interceptions back in 2022. One could make an argument the reason the Seahawks aren’t 4-0 on the season was directly due to his poor play against the San Francisco 49ers in the season opener, where he allowed an explosive play to Ricky Pearsall and the go-ahead touchdown by Jake Tonges in the second half of their 17-13 Week 1 loss.
How Would Riq Woolen Fit into the Raiders Secondary?
Despite the struggles of Woolen in 2025, the UTSA product is the ideal fit for Pete Carroll’s defensive scheme and would prevent rookie Darien Porter from being pressed into extended playing time before he is ready.
To be fair, Porter has received a 74.4 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus on the season — but this grade has come on a small sample size of just 16 coverage snaps through his two games of action.
Woolen has been a full-time starter in the league and looked like a potential future All-Pro at the position early in his NFL career.
The Raiders‘ cornerback room likely isn’t the biggest concern on the roster through the first month of the 2025 NFL season, but does present intriguing upside for Las Vegas if Woolen can recapture his promising form under Pete Carroll during their time together in Seattle.
