There are only 88 days until the Carolina Panthers kick off the 2019 season, so let’s take a closer look at the player who wears No. 88 for the Panthers — tight end Greg Olsen.
Greg Olsen, Tight end
Bio
Height: 6’ 5”
Weight: 255 lbs
Age: 34
College: University of Miami
Experience: 13 years
The Panthers made a concerted effort in 2011 to upgrade their tight end position to help smooth the transition for their rookie quarterback, Cam Newton, into the NFL. They signed then-free agent Jeremy Shockey, who made a nice number two tight end for a little while, and traded a third round pick to the Bears for Greg Olsen.
Olsen has since made himself an indispensable part of the Panthers’ offense and Cam Newton’s career. It is ironic that a quarterback often labelled as a runner—in a deragotory manner, no less— has never put his best foot forward on the field without his favorite pass catcher in sight.
That speaks volumes for Olsen’s talent and work ethic, two traits that will also hopefully buoy him along his path to recovery from a recent and uncharacteristic spat of injuries that have kept him largely off the football field for the past two seasons. The Panthers are throwing everything they can at the wall right now in an attempt to shore up the tight end position behind Olsen and their promising young tight end, Ian Thomas, but they are banking on getting at least one more season of the consistency that made Olsen a household name in the Carolinas.
All reports on Olsen’s recovery are positive thus far. He may be the oldest guy on the team now, but he is still showing up in Organized Team Activities with highlight reel catches. It doesn’t seem crazy to expect at least one more great season out of the team Elder before he retires to the great broadcasting booth in the Sky(Box).