Pro Football Focus’ top-graded preseason player for the Carolina Panthers wasn’t one of the flashy names on the edge depth chart. It was veteran pass rusher Trevis Gipson, a result that probably caught plenty of people off guard.
PFF pointed to Gipson’s four-game August stretch and highlighted just how effective he was in a limited sample. The outlet noted that he has been in the league since 2020 and “has routinely impressed in the preseason.” For the third time in his career, Gipson posted a preseason PFF pass-rush grade above 90.0, while piling up six pressures on 33 pass-rushing snaps.
That production helped him stick on the Panthers’ initial 53-man roster, even if his role is lined up behind several other edge defenders. Gipson projects as the fourth edge rusher behind Jaelan Phillips, Pat Jones II and Princely Umanmielen. The final spot at the position went to Thomas Incoom.
Gipson, a fifth-round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2020 NFL Draft, has now appeared in 66 games across five different teams. His career totals include 12.0 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for a loss and six forced fumbles.
He’s been more of a depth piece than a full-time starter, with 19 starts so far. His best season came in 2021, when he delivered a career-high 7.0 sacks along with seven quarterback hits and five forced fumbles for Chicago.
Last year with Carolina, Gipson played in nine games and finished with 12 tackles and a sack.
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For Carolina, the deal is another reminder that not every roster addition comes with immediate fanfare. Edwards arrives as a low-cost flier with a draft-pick price attached, and the Panthers clearly saw enough in him to justify parting with future capital. Whether the move turns into anything more than depth will take time to learn, but this is the sort of transaction teams make when they believe a player is worth a longer look than a normal waiver claim. [Read more 🡒]
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Panthers Linebacker Shakeup Just Cost Carolina A Recent Draft Pick
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Carolinas Week 1 group now features Devin Lloyd, Okereke, Claudin Cherelus and Jackson Kuwatch, leaving a very different look than the one Wallace was trying to crack in camp. For a team still sorting out its linebacker rotation, the loss of a recent draft pick is another reminder that roster decisions in late August can carry real consequences well into the season. [Read more 🡒]