Yes, in the locker room – not just the coaches’ offices. It was a theme repeated multiple times by running back Fozzy Whittaker following Carolina’s 46-27 victory over the 49ers.
“I definitely was excited to be out there,” Whittaker said. “I never want to see my own teammate go down, and I hope he heals up very fast. But, we always have the next-man-up-mentality, and whenever my number’s called, I’m just trying to help produce and get the team a win.”
Whittaker entered the game listed second on the Panthers’ running back depth chart, but after starter Jonathan Stewart went down with six minutes remaining in the first quarter, Whittaker became the featured back.