Aug 21, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers helmet during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
The Carolina Panthers very vividly played like the NFL’s worst team in Week 1, utterly ravaged by the New Orleans Saints in a 47-10 beatdown.
But they’re not mailing it in just yet.
The Panthers promoted former Minnesota Vikings running back Mike Boone this week, a move to help bolster depth in the backfield. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted Tuesday, “The Panthers are signing RB Mike Boone to the 53-man roster, per source.”
Booth began his NFL career as a Viking, added to the roster via undrafted free agency in 2018 by former general manager Rick Spielman. Boone played for the Houston Texans for most of the 2023 season, but that playoff-bound club said sayonara on December 18th, 2023. The Panthers scooped Boone in January, and he remained on the offseason roster until the 53-man deadline two weeks ago. He didn’t make the initial cut but found his way to the practice squad.
Now, Boone will stay attached to the Panthers’ active roster, at least for a while, and hopes to receive playing time in the lineup.
The Cincinnati alumnus played 102 offensive snaps for the Texans this season and 44 on special teams, with 5 rushing attempts for 23 yards, plus 7 catches for 40 yards. Boone lived in RB3-RB4 territory on the Texans’ depth chart among men like Devin Singletary, Dameon Pierce, and Dare Ogunbowale.
After departing the Vikings in early 2021, Boone signed with the Broncos for two years, in 2021 and 2022, and used free agency for his career’s third chapter in Houston in the 2023 offseason. Here’s his NFL resume to date:
These are Carolina’s running backs at the moment:
The Panthers, Boone’s current team, ranked 25th in the NFL per rushing DVOA in 2023, so its strategy largely didn’t work. Many NFL pundits — especially those specializing in fantasy football — expected Miles Sanders to do some damage, but that experiment failed. Chuba Hubbard took over and provided some relief in the second half of the season; not a complete game-wrecker, however.
Against the Saints in Week 1, Carolina produced a meager 58 yards on the ground.
Boone is known for speed and could provide a few touches within the Panthers’ offense until Jonathon Brooks makes his rookie debut.
The Panthers also employ former Vikings players T.J. Smith (DT, Practice Squad), Adam Thielen (WR), D.J. Wonnum (EDGE, PUP), and Xavier Woods (S).
Boone turned 29 in July.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.