Teddy Bridgewater's retirement has opened the door for Luke Altmyer to see significant playing time at the Carolina Panthers.
The undrafted rookie is now the only quarterback behind Jared Goff on the roster, with Josh Dobbs set to join the team but not expected to play in the first preseason game.
Carolina's quarterback situation was already precarious before Bridgewater's retirement, and Altmyer's increased role will be closely watched. The Panthers are expected to have a young and inexperienced quarterback corps heading into the regular season.
Bridgewater's decision to retire has given Altmyer a chance to make a big impression.
In a statement to the team's website, Altmyer expressed his gratitude to Bridgewater and Goff for their mentorship. "First of all, best wishes to [Bridgewater]," Altmyer said. "I'm so thankful to spend time with him and [Goff], obviously, learning from both of them, different perspectives (and) different outlooks on how they see things. It was a joy to spend some time with him. But it brings about opportunity for myself. The standard is to play good football no matter how many reps or whatever my role is. I have a job to do, and my job is to do that very well at a high level. I'm thankful and believe in my abilities and I'm going to go cut it loose whatever that looks like."
Altmyer's opportunity will be put to the test in the preseason game against the Bengals, where he will likely get significant playing time.
While Dobbs's experience makes him a strong contender for the No. 2 quarterback spot, Altmyer's performance could make the decision about keeping a third quarterback more difficult for the Panthers.
The quarterback situation in Carolina is far from settled, and Altmyer's emergence as a key player could have significant implications for the team's future.
Source: Yahoo Sports