CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In an era when giving running backs big contracts is often frowned upon, the Carolina Panthers have no regrets about making Christian McCaffrey the highest-paid back in the NFL.
Even after he has missed nine games because of ankle and shoulder injuries.
If anything, not having McCaffrey offers the Panthers a reminder of how valuable he is, as Carolina heads into the bye week with expectations that its star will be available when the team returns for a Dec. 13 game against Denver.
The Panthers have scored 30 or more points three times this season, and two of those times were with McCaffrey in the lineup.