The Carolina Panthers fired head coach Matt Rhule this week and introduced Steve Wilks as interim head coach ahead of Sunday’s game against the Rams. Well, Wilks didn’t have to wait long to make his first dramatic move as interim head coach.
For months, it had been evident that wide receiver Robbie Anderson was unhappy in Carolina. He reacted publicly (and negatively) to the Panthers’ interest in Baker Mayfield, and the situation hadn’t improved as his targets have been down thus far in 2022. It’s gotten to the point where Anderson could be a trade candidate this season.
So, of course, the scene from Sunday’s game might actually speed up his departure from Carolina. Because, yeah, this cannot continue…
#Panthers Robbie Anderson is sitting away from the rest of the WRs on the sidelines.
The team is reportedly actively shopping him around the league. pic.twitter.com/RSvawGGhYk
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 16, 2022
Robbie Anderson getting in the face of coach Joe Dailey 😳
pic.twitter.com/8jaxCupAza— PFF (@PFF) October 16, 2022
Cameras caught Anderson getting into an argument with wide receivers coach Joe Dailey. And later in the second half, Wilks had seen and heard enough from the disgruntled receiver.
Robbie Anderson just got kicked out of the game by his own team.pic.twitter.com/tNut1eN2rX
— Overtime (@overtime) October 16, 2022
He told Anderson to head to the locker room and stay there to the absolute dismay of Anderson.
Robbie Anderson has been removed from the game. pic.twitter.com/xFlAJvnTO3
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 16, 2022
You almost never see an NFL player get kicked off the field by his own team, which probably indicated how distracting Anderson’s sideline antics were for the rest of the team.
NFL fans also had thoughts on the dramatic sequence in Los Angeles.