Compared to where they’ve been in recent years, the Panthers are sitting in a much better spot as roster cutdown day approaches. Carolina came out of a 2025 NFC South title with a deeper, sturdier group, and the front office now has to trim the roster from 90 players to 53 by 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.
That means some legitimate decisions are coming for Dan Morgan and the staff, especially with several bubble players making a strong case in camp and the preseason. Here are the names that stand out most.
Haynes King is one of the most interesting calls on the board. The undrafted rookie has clearly earned attention, especially after his Hall of Fame Game heroics. The question is whether Carolina keeps him by carrying a third quarterback or tries to slip him through waivers and stash him on the practice squad.
At running back, AJ Dillon has given the Panthers something to think about. If they decide to keep a fourth back behind Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks and Trevor Etienne, Dillon looks like the most likely candidate. He’s had a strong preseason and offers short-yardage value, but the team still has to decide whether that skill set is worth the roster spot.
Wide receiver is where things get especially crowded. David Moore is the veteran name in the mix, though plugged-in beat writers are starting to expect he gets cut.
Moore is a favorite of head coach Dave Canales, but it would be hard to justify keeping him over younger receivers with more upside. He could still wind up on the practice squad.
Two younger receivers have made a real push. Ja’seem Reed has been one of the Panthers’ best pass-catchers this month, with touchdown catches against Arizona and Buffalo. He’s in the conversation for preseason MVP at wide receiver.
John Metchie III has an edge because of both experience and his chemistry with Bryce Young. He put up a game-high 77 receiving yards against Jacksonville last Friday and added a touchdown against the Bills. He also should have had another against Arizona if not for a rare miss by King.
Tight end is another spot to watch after Carolina added Darren Waller. The Panthers didn’t bring him in last week just to move on immediately, so he’s likely to land on the initial roster or the practice squad. If he’s waived, the expectation is that he’ll sign back right away.
That addition makes life harder for Ja'Tavion Sanders. The 2024 fourth-round pick may have been in better shape before Waller arrived, because Waller instantly becomes the best pass-catching tight end Carolina has had since Greg Olsen. Sanders also has to compete with Feleipe Franks, who brings value on special teams.
Up front, undrafted rookie Albert Reese has turned heads all preseason. Pro Football Focus has him with a league-leading 92.6 run-blocking grade, and that kind of showing makes him tough to sneak through waivers. If Carolina cuts him, another team could easily come calling for offensive line help.
On the defensive line, Aaron Hall is in the mix for depth and some pass-rush juice, but his place isn’t secure with Jared Harrison-Hunte and Elijah Garcia also fighting for jobs.
The edge-rusher picture got thinner when Nic Scourton went down with a season-ending ACL tear on the first day of training camp, and Cam Gill has been one of the few players to flash in that area. After winning Defensive Player of the Year in the UFL this spring, he’s shown some growth as a pass rusher and could help fill a need.
Finally, Isaiah Simmons has a path to sticking because of what he can do on special teams and the versatility he brings on defense. He already won over Panthers fans in the wild-card round last season by blocking a punt in the fourth quarter to set up a late go-ahead touchdown drive. With Tre'von Moehrig, Nick Scott, Lathan Ransom and Zakee Wheatley viewed as locks, Simmons could be the piece that pushes Carolina to carry five safeties.
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 One Roster Battle That Could Force Outside Help
The roster trim-down deadline is looming, and Carolina still has a few spots that feel anything but settled. By 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, the Panthers have to get down to 53 players, and the decisions coming out of that process could shape more than just the back end of the depth chart. ESPNs Mike Kaye pointed to three areas that look especially vulnerable after the cut: off-ball linebacker, guard and the defensive line, with the edge rotation standing out as a particular concern.
Linebacker is the spot worth watching most closely because the Panthers are still sorting out the competition next to Devin Lloyd, with Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus in the mix. If that battle leaves the staff wanting more certainty, there are still recognizable veteran options sitting in free agency, including Bobby Wagner and Shaq Thompson. With depth also thin at guard and along the line, Carolina may not be done looking outside the building even after the roster gets finalized. [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 🡒]