Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The Carolina Panthers agreed to trade Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday, the team's announced. The move came a day after Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks removed the veteran wide receiver from a game.
The Cardinals will send undisclosed draft pick compensation to the Panthers in the deal. Anderson still needs to pass a physical to complete the transaction.
Anderson is under contract through 2023, but his $12 million in salary and roster bonuses is not guaranteed. The seven-year veteran logged 27 targets, 13 catches, 206 yards and one score through his first five games this season.
Anderson told reporters Sunday that he was "confused" after he was seen arguing with position coach Joe Dailey and was thrown out of the Panthers' Week 6 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Anderson walked up to Dailey in the first half of the 24-10 loss Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. He got in Dailey's face and the two exchanged words before fellow wide receiver Rashard Higgins separated Anderson from the coach.
Wilks called Anderson over in the third quarter and told the wide receiver to go to the locker room. Anderson took off his helmet and uttered several more words toward his own sideline before he exited through the stadium tunnel.
"I'm gonna say this: No one is bigger than the team," Wilks told reporters. "I'm not going to focus and put a lot of attention on one individual.
"We can talk about the game or situation within the game or things we are going to do moving forward, but I'm not putting a lot of energy into one individual."
Anderson did not receive a target and was in for just 23 snaps against the Rams. Wilks did not commit to keeping Anderson on the team when asked about his future.
"Everybody is being evaluated, as well as myself," Wilks said. "We've got to figure out what's going to be the right chemistry to put out on the field offensively and defensively."
Anderson said he was upset about being taken out on a third-down opportunity and voiced that frustration to Dailey.
"I was honestly confused," Anderson said. "I wanted to be in the game. I've never been to get out of the game. So I was honestly confused and upset by that. I should be.
"I don't see nobody that is a true competitor, that knows the value they bring and has true passion for the game, that will be OK with being told not to do something or being taken out of something when they didn't do nothing wrong."
Wilks took over as the Panthers' interim coach Oct. 7 after the team fired Matt Rhule, who has a 1-4 start. The Rams outgained the Panthers 360-203 in total yards and had an edge of nearly 15 minutes in time of possession Sunday in Inglewood.
The Panthers (1-5) will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. The Cardinals (2-4) will face the New Orleans Saints (2-4) at 8:15 p.m. Thursday in Glendale, Ariz.
