With Panthers training camp less than two weeks away, the roster picture in Carolina looks a lot sharper than it has in years. That’s a positive sign for the team’s direction heading toward 2026 - and a warning light for the players sitting closest to the edge.
For a few guys, camp is going to be less about building momentum and more about surviving the numbers game. Three names stand out.
Jimmy Horn Jr. has plenty of support from the fan base, but that alone won’t carry him onto the initial 53-man roster. The Panthers appear set with Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, Chris Brazzell II and David Moore occupying the top five receiver spots. That leaves what could be just one opening for everyone else.
Horn’s best path may come on special teams. To separate himself, he likely has to show he can make a real impact as both a kickoff and punt returner, especially with Brycen Tremayne and Dan Chisena offering their own value in that area.
Will Grier is in a different kind of fight. Since leaving Carolina in 2021, he’s bounced around with the Dallas Cowboys and had brief stops with the Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles. Even now, he still hasn’t played in a regular-season game since his rookie year in 2019.
The Panthers are not expected to carry three quarterbacks into September, and Kenny Pickett is essentially locked in as Bryce Young’s backup. That leaves Grier needing a strong camp if he wants even a practice-squad spot, and he’ll have to beat out undrafted rookie Haynes King to get there.
Stone Forsythe also arrives with work to do. Carolina’s decision to bring him in raised some eyebrows, and the numbers from his recent track record don’t help his case.
He didn’t do much to stand out over four seasons as a backup in Seattle, and last year as a starter in Las Vegas was even less convincing. His 55.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranked him 75th out of 89 qualifying offensive tackles in 2025.
The tackle room doesn’t leave much breathing space, either. Rasheed Walker, Monroe Freeling and Taylor Moton are expected to have spots, with Ikem Ekwonu possibly joining them. That means Forsythe may have to outplay undrafted rookies Isaia Glass and Albert Reese, both of whom come with the advantage of being cheaper options.
In Other News...
Tetairoa McMillan Camp Mess Has Panthers Fans And Parents Heated
What was supposed to be a youth football camp tied to Tetairoa McMillan instead turned into a frustrating day for families at A.C. Reynolds High School on July 1, when parents showed up expecting an event that was no longer happening. McMillan was not involved in planning and could not attend, and FlexWork Sports later confirmed the camp had been canceled back in February, leaving a messy gap between what families were told and what was actually on the calendar.
The school added another layer to the confusion by saying it never approved the event in the first place, and the NCHSAA dead period would have blocked facility use anyway. For Panthers fans, it is the kind of off-field headache that reflects poorly on everyone attached to the name, especially when the communication breakdown lands on parents who were simply trying to give their kids a football experience. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Finally Have A Real Answer To Bryce Young's TE Problem
The Panthers have spent the offseason trying to sort out a tight end room that still looks more functional than threatening for Bryce Youngs passing game. Tommy Tremble, JaTavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans are the names currently in line for the job, but Carolina has been working with a group that needs more proven help in the middle of the field, especially as the rest of the passing options remain relatively thin behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.
One possible path to easing that pressure is a veteran addition in free agency, and the fit makes sense on paper because Carolina is looking for a pass-catching tight end who can give Young a more reliable target. The appeal is easy to see after a strong run earlier in the players career, though the most recent season was far less productive, which leaves the Panthers weighing upside against the risk that the answer might not be as simple as the need. [Read more 🡒]
John Metchie May Have One Edge Panthers Fans Should Watch Closely
John Metchie IIIs arrival gives the Panthers something more than another name in the receiver room. After signing a one-year deal, he is back alongside Bryce Young, the quarterback he once caught passes from at Alabama, and that shared history matters in a competition where timing, trust and familiarity can separate the last few roster spots.
Metchie is now in the mix with several other wideouts as Carolina sorts through its depth chart, but the connection with Young is the one edge fans will notice first. The two already know how to work together, and for a team trying to sharpen its passing game, that kind of built-in chemistry can make Metchie a player worth watching closely as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]