Reggie Bonnafon an unlikely hero in Carolina's win over Jacksonville

[Sir Purr]

“In crunch time, when Christian was dinged, Reggie popped the long one and had that (18-yarder). Those are big runs for a guy who was standing around all game,” tight end Greg Olsen said. “Now here’s the ball with the game on the line. People don’t appreciate how hard that is.”


It’s hard to stay ready behind a legit MVP candidate in McCaffrey, who never comes off the field. But credit to Bonnafon for doing just that.


“Obviously, nobody is Superman,” Bonnafon said of McCaffrey. “But it’s remarkable for him to do what he does. The plays I was in, I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know how Mac does it.’ And he does it week in and week out.


“Man, I get better just watching him.”


Bonnafon finished with five carries for 80 yards. As good as McCaffrey is, perhaps a performance like that will lead to more touches going forward for the Louisville product.


“He was a kid in college who played quarterback, wide receiver and running back and (we) never really knew where he would fit,” Rivera said of Bonnafon, who spent all of 2018 on the practice squad. “He came out and had a great training camp this year and made our 53. It was just a matter of him getting opportunities.”


As left guard Greg Van Roten said, “People are seeing this guy is a hell of a back, too.”


The Jaguars found that out the hard way.


“Feels good to get a win,” Bonnafon said, “and feels even better to contribute to it.”