With roster cuts looming, the Carolina Panthers could use the next wave of available talent to patch a few obvious holes.
By 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, every NFL team has to get from 90 players down to 53, and that churn can do more than just clear out the roster. For Carolina, it may also create an opening to improve where the depth chart looks thin.
ESPN’s Mike Kaye identified three areas that stand out most for the Panthers after cutdown day, and the biggest concern sits at off-ball linebacker next to Devin Lloyd. That job has been up for grabs all summer, with Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus still locked in a tight battle that hasn’t produced a clear winner.
Kaye wrote:
The Panthers have staged a competition opposite Lloyd throughout the summer. Unfortunately for Carolina, neither Wallace (a 2024 third-round pick) nor Cherelus (a longtime backup and special teams standout) has separated himself in the battle. Coach Dave Canales acknowledged as much Monday, stating the pair is "head-to-head ... and it's like neck-and-neck" heading into the final week of the preseason.
Carolina may not need to wait long for help to become available. Veterans like Bobby Wagner, Bobby Okereke and even Shaq Thompson are still on the free-agent market, giving the Panthers a chance to look outside the building if they want to reinforce the spot.
Kaye’s other two areas of concern are guard and the defensive line. The guard situation is especially tricky because the Panthers already poured major resources into Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt two years ago, but the problem now is depth. Brady Christensen appears to be the top backup at both guard spots, while the rest of the reserve options include several former Seattle cast-offs and 2023 fourth-round pick Chandler Zavala.
The defensive line remains unsettled, though that picture is expected to stay that way until Tershawn Wharton is healthy enough to return. Still, the edge group may be the bigger issue in practice. Unless the Panthers know something the outside world doesn’t about Pat Jones II, the loss of Nic Scourton could leave that rotation in a rough spot.
In Other News...
Panthers Fans Face A Stadium Delay Before Tonights Home Preseason Finale
A rough weather night arrived before the Carolina Panthers preseason finale, as severe thunderstorms and heavy rain in Mecklenburg County forced Bank of America Stadium to delay its gate opening for the game against the Houston Texans. The storms were carrying dangerous lightning and possible damaging winds, and officials warned fans to stay put until conditions improved rather than rush toward the stadium.
The delay put a different kind of tension on a night already meant to serve as the Panthers last tune-up before the real games begin. With the storm expected to linger until around 6:30 p.m., the priority shifted from football to safety, and fans were urged to seek cover and keep clear of any downed power lines while waiting for word on when they could head inside. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Face Tough Calls After Several Bubble Players Forced The Issue
With the roster cutdown deadline looming, Carolina is staring at the kind of decisions that always seem to define the last week of camp. The Panthers have to trim from 90 players to 53, and a sizable group of bubble names has spent the summer making the picture harder to read, not easier. That includes quarterback Haynes King, running back AJ Dillon, wide receivers David Moore, Jaseem Reed and John Metchie III, plus tight ends Darren Waller and JaTavion Sanders.
The list does not stop there, either, with offensive lineman Albert Reese, defensive lineman Aaron Hall, outside linebacker Cam Gill and safety Isaiah Simmons all pushing for a place in the mix. Several of them have flashed enough in recent weeks to keep the conversation alive, but the final stretch is where opportunity and timing tend to collide. For Carolina, the real question is how many of these players can force their way onto the 53-man roster, and which ones might have to hope the practice squad gives them a second chance. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Fans Are Torn Over Dave Canales September Gamble
The conversation around Dave Canales approach to the preseason finale has lingered into September, and it is not hard to see why. A recent survey of Panthers fans found a clear split on how much work starters should have gotten before the regular season, with many wanting at least a first-quarter tune-up and others preferring a lighter touch, all while Canales leaned toward keeping his key players on the sideline against the Texans.
For Carolina, it is the old preseason argument with a fresh layer of urgency: protect bodies, or chase more live reps before games start to count. The caution fits Canales reputation, but the fan reaction suggests the margin for error is already thin, especially with the teams September record under his watch sitting squarely in the background of every decision he makes. [Read more 🡒]