The Carolina Panthers have exercised the fifth-year option on wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, the team announced Tuesday.
In 2016, Benjamin started 13 of 16 games played, totaling a team-leading seven touchdown catches on 63 receptions for 941 yards.
Benjamin missed the entire 2015 season after suffering a knee injury in training camp, but was among the leading rookie receivers in the NFL in 2014 after being selected by Carolina with the 28th pick in the first round.
Benjamin ranked third among NFL rookies with 1,008 receiving yards, 73 receptions and nine receiving touchdowns. Benjamin’s totals were Panthers rookie records, surpassing Keary Colbert’s 47 receptions, 754 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns in 2004.
