The Panthers knew they would be turning to an inexperienced quarterback with franchise cornerstone Cam Newton’s shoulder injury becoming too much for him to continue playing this week against the Atlanta Falcons – they just didn’t know how inexperienced.
After Taylor Heinicke exited the first start of his career against the Falcons midway through the second quarter with an injury to his left elbow, Carolina turned to undrafted free agent rookie quarterback Kyle Allen, whom the team had promoted from the practice squad on Thursday. Allen, who was once rated the nation’s top quarterback by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports after throwing for more than 8,000 yards and 86 touchdowns over his Arizona high school career, was waived from the practice squad after Week 1 and was resigned to the practice squad after Week 8.
During that time off, Allen tried out for five different teams but was not signed until the Panthers brought him back to first the practice squad, then to the active roster, then into the Week 16 matchup.
“I was sitting around for seven weeks, flying around the country, going to different places for workouts and stuff and just hoping something clicks,” said Allen on Thursday. “In my mind, it’s just a mindset of patience, you’ve got to understand that when it’s going to happen, if you just keep your mind right and you keep working, something’s going to click for you and you’ve just got to take advantage of your opportunity.”
“This league’s just about opportunities and you’ve got to take advantage of them.”
As Heinicke was in the locker room getting his elbow wrapped and braced, Allen filled in, going 4-for-4 for 38 yards and driving the Panthers into the red zone before giving way to Heinicke, who returned with his non-throwing elbow heavily taped.
Heinicke was originally injured on a hit by defensive tackle Grady Jarrett – as Heinicke writhed on the ground in pain, multiple Panthers, including linebacker Luke Kuechly, expressed disbelief and anger at the hit, which eventually drew a penalty for roughing the passer.
