Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey: Trade rumors 'out of my control'

Star running back Christian McCaffrey has once again found his name in trade rumors, this time after the Carolina Panthers parted ways with head coach Matt Rhule on Oct. 10. 

McCaffrey made it clear Wednesday that he's doing all he can to focus on the task at hand as the 1-5 Panthers prepare to host the 3-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday. 

"[I’m] keeping that away from me," McCaffrey explained about trade chatter, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "That’s out of my control. I’m trying to control everything I can control, and that’s having a great meeting here next. Right now I’m a Carolina Panther and I’m giving my all to this place.

"If they keep me in the loop, great. If not, it doesn’t matter. Like I said, to me, I’m focused on playing against the Bucs this week right now. And I’m doing everything I can to prepare for that game." 

The one-time First-Team All-Pro is no stranger to such speculation. It was reported in March that Carolina had "fielded more than one call" regarding McCaffrey's services ahead of this year's NFL Draft and after the 26-year-old had missed a total of 23 regular-season games due to injury issues over the previous two campaigns. 

Thus far this season, McCaffrey has tallied 393 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 85 carries to go along with 33 catches for 277 yards and a single score. He signed a four-year, $64 million deal before the 2020 campaign and was recently linked by The Athletic with the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Rams. 

The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 1.