Armanti

Edwards

Edwards has been a massive bust since being a third-round pick in 2010, notching zero catches while averaging an absurdly poor 5.2 yards on 34 punt returns. Adams should, and likely will, push Edwards off the roster.

It’s why Joe Adams’ selection has surely ended Edwards’ time as the Panthers’ return specialist, and why the Charlotte Observer’s Scott Fowler and Joseph Person both expect Edwards to lose his roster spot. Edwards is just two years removed from being the No. 89 overall pick, but has shown so little that he might have trouble latching on elsewhere if he’s indeed released.

It looks like Edwards took the selection of fellow WR/KR Joe Adams as motivation. Still, he remains squarely on the roster bubble while battling with Louis Murphy and Seyi Ajirotutu for reps.

Edwards was downgraded from probable on Saturday, which doesn’t bode well for his chances of playing in the Panthers’ Week 11 divisional game against the Bucs. Edwards saw minimal action for most of the season, but did play 17 snaps in last week’s loss to the Broncos. He has three catches for 103 yards on the season, and is well off the fantasy radar.

Adams returned a pair of punts for 27 yards last week. “Joe was exciting,” coach Ron Rivera said. “I was real happy for him.” Edwards has returned five kickoffs for 105 yards since Kealoha Pilares was lost for the season. “Armanti is really relishing his role,” said Rivera. “The last couple of weeks, he’s really hit it strong.”

Edwards, the former Appalachian State quarterback turned NFL receiver, is one of now former GM Marty Hurney’s many high-risk mistakes. Hurney traded a 2011 second-round pick to New England, which ended up being the No. 33 pick overall, for the right to select Edwards in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Edwards has one catch for 12 yards in his career and has also failed in the return game. The fact that he’s even stuck around this long is a surprise.

The Panthers signed WRs Ted Ginn and Domenik Hixon, and both players can return kicks and punts. Edwards finally caught his first pass as a pro last season, totaling five catches for 121 yards. He’s been a major flop since being taken in the third round of the 2010 draft. Edwards will almost certainly be cut.

The Observer is reversing course on Edwards, who they believed was “hard to see a spot for,” just three weeks ago. Edwards has been a major flop since being taken in the third round of the 2010 draft, but may finally be turning a corner after stringing together multiple impressive practices. It’s an encouraging sign for a Panthers receiving corps short on talent, but we won’t hold our breath on Edwards emerging as a fantasy factor.

“Probably the guy who’s really improved the most during these OTAs and minicamp has been Armanti,” Rivera said. “He made a couple really nice plays. His development has been really key for us as well.” Edwards will have to keep it up during training camp and preseason, but it sounds like he’ll keep his job.

Better late than never? Edwards has done absolutely nothing through his first three NFL seasons, but is apparently “running fluid routes and catching the ball in traffic.” That’s all good and well, but pad-less practices have always been when Edwards shines. We’re highly skeptical he’ll suddenly be a productive player in 2013, and don’t consider his roster spot cinched up.