CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Curtis Samuel has become “Mr. Third Down” for the Carolina Panthers, but it was the wide receiver’s first-down touchdown catch against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night that made the highlight reel.
Running back Mike Davis took a handoff and pitched the ball back to quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who found Samuel open down the left side for a 29-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
The play came right after Samuel caught a 3-yard pass on third-and-2, his 15th third-down catch of the season and NFL-leading 12th for a first down.
ANOTHER ONE FOR 🔟
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— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 30, 2020
Samuel had opened the scoring for Carolina with a rushing touchdown in the first quarter after lining up at running back, giving him three games in his NFL career with a rushing and receiving score. That’s the second most in Carolina history behind Christian McCaffrey‘s eight.
With McCaffrey out for the sixth consecutive game with a high ankle sprain, Samuel has been used more than ever like he was at Ohio State, where he played running back and wide receiver.
The Panthers turned to rookie linebacker/safety Jeremy Chinn for another trick play in the third quarter. Faced with fourth-and-9 from their own 32, they direct snapped it to the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month on the punt and he ran for the first down.
JEREMY CHINN CAN DO IT ALL
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— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 30, 2020
