Casey Washington’s path through the NFL has already taken a sharp turn from Atlanta to Carolina, and the early returns with the Panthers have been hard to ignore.
The Falcons moved on from Washington during OTAs, long before their wide receiver competition could really get underway. That decision came after a stretch in Atlanta where he showed flashes over two seasons but ultimately faded out, including a late-season healthy scratch in a receiver room that badly needed help.
Carolina gave him another shot early in training camp after rookie Chris Brazzell II went down with season-ending LCL surgery. The Panthers needed depth in a hurry, and Washington has made the most of the opening.
In two preseason games, the 25-year-old has caught nine of 11 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. That score came in Carolina’s preseason opener against the Jaguars, when he showed some toughness by breaking a tackle and finishing the play in the end zone.
His summer production has put him near the top of the preseason leaderboard. Washington ranks 12th in the NFL in preseason receiving yards, and his nine catches are tied for seventh-most in the league through two games.
For a player who once opened the year as Atlanta’s WR3 and even made a couple of starts for the Falcons last season, the situation in Carolina is very different. He would now be battling for a spot as the Panthers’ WR5 or WR6 behind Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, David Moore, Brycen Tremayne, and possibly Jimmy Horn Jr. and John Metchie III.
That’s still a steep climb, even without Brazzell in the mix. But Washington has put himself in position to keep pushing for a 53-man roster spot, and if that doesn’t happen, a practice squad role could still be there.
Atlanta may not have any reason to second-guess its decision, especially with Vinny Anthony II, Chris Blair, and Juice Wells Jr. drawing attention this summer. Still, Washington is doing exactly what a player in his spot needs to do: make the most of the second chance in front of him.
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