As much as Cam Newton doesn’t want the 2021 Carolina Panthers to be about him, Sunday’s trip to the desert was all about the return of Superman. But it was actually another player who proved he was faster than a speeding bullet.
And that man was linebacker Shaq Thompson, who recorded the fastest sack in the NFL over the past two seasons. His super speed was put on display in the third quarter of Week 10’s victory over the Arizona Cardinals, when he flew into the backfield to get to quarterback Colt McCoy.
“Shaq Thompson playing like early 2000s Ray Lewis out here.”
– @greggrosenthal somewhere pic.twitter.com/Mf4lIu8Afp— Panthers 24/7 (@Panthers24_7) November 14, 2021
Shaq Thompson gets home in a hurry.
McCoy heads to the tent.
Whew, boy. pic.twitter.com/aUkjLyCQ1U
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) November 14, 2021
Thompson took 1.87 seconds, from snap to sack, to corral the 12th-year veteran to the turf. (We feel for McCoy, by the way. Imagine having 1.87 seconds to do anything, let alone get a pass off.)
Shaq’s superhuman moment in the 34-10 win is just his latest feat in what’s been a phenomenal year for the seventh-year defender. He’s already doubled his career output in interceptions over seven games this season while having now tied previous highs in pass deflections (five) and quarterback hits (six).
The sack, additionally, brings him to 2.0 on the season—1.5 off another career-best. He should, especially with that type of quickness, get to that total in no time.