Kelvin Benjamin Disciplined, Did Not Start For Panthers

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin did not start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks in what was a coach’s decision.

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin didn’t start against the Seattle Seahawks yesterday in a coach’s decision that stemmed from discipline according to head coach Ron Rivera.

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Carolina coach Ron Rivera said he was trying to send the NFL Rookie of the Year candidate a message talking to reporters after Sunday’s 13-9 loss against the Seattle Seahawks “That you’re accountable just like everybody else,” Rivera said.

While Rivera did not elaborate, Kelvin Benjamin talked about ways he needed to improve himself to reporters after the game. He said he needed to be hel accountable for “Everything.”

“Being a great teammate, knowing my assignments, just being a pro,” he said.

While Benjamin wasn’t on the field for the first play, he did enter the game on the first possession, showing that his actions may not be as serious. On the fifth play of the game, Kelvin Benjamin grabbed a 17-yard pass. He went on to lead the Panthers in receiving with four receptions for 94 yards including a 51-yard spectacular catch between Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas, a couple of the best secondary players in the NFL.

Benjamin did, however, have a key drop in the end zone that may have costed the Panthers the game when he let a touchdown pass slip through his hands in the first half when Carolina scored only six points on three trips inside the Seattle 20. The Panthers lost by four and had to settle for three points after the drop.

The 28th overall pick out of Florida State leads the Panthers in receiving on the year with 38 catches, 571 yards and five touchdowns.

The rookie is impressive but clearly needs to deal with some small issues highlighted by himself. He said he didn’t worry about why he didn’t start as much as he focused on “when I got my chance and got in I wanted to leave my mark.”

The Carolina Panthers are 1-4-1 since starting the season 2-0 after injuries have plagued their season as well as poor defensive efforts after they were ranked as the second best defense entering the year. Kelvin Benjamin has been a bright spot for the struggling Panthers.

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