A week into Panthers training camp, the rookie class is already sorting itself out. Some newcomers are forcing the issue.
Others are fading into the background. And a few have had their roles changed for reasons that had nothing to do with hype.
Monroe Freeling is the clearest mover. Taylor Moton’s injury pushed him into the starting right tackle job, but Freeling has also earned the climb on merit. Since getting thrown into the fire, he has handled the work well and answered questions about whether he was ready for the NFL.
Lee Hunter is in a similar spot. Tershawn Wharton’s injury bumped him up the chart, and he has backed it up with his play. Robert Hunt said he believes Lee has something special, and Hunter is making sure the people across from him notice every day.
The biggest loss among the rookies is Chris Brazzell. He was climbing fast and looked like he had a real shot to open as a starting wide receiver before the injury hit.
Now he’s headed for season-ending surgery, which drops him completely out of the conversation. That’s especially frustrating because he had been having a strong camp.
Will Lee has also turned heads in a big way. His play has been so impressive that the Panthers are even experimenting with Jaycee Horn in the slot so Horn, Lee, and Mike Jackson can all be on the field together. Lee has done enough to force Ejiro Evero to find ways to fit a rookie into the defense.
Not every rookie has kept pace. Sam Hecht entered camp looking like a candidate to jump Luke Fortner and win a starting spot on the offensive line, but the latest word is that he won’t start Week 1. However that shakes out, he has slid a bit.
Zakee Wheatley has also lost some momentum. Early on, it looked like he might beat out Nick Scott and Lathan Ransom for the job opposite Tre’von Moehrig, but he has been quiet so far. He hasn’t made much of a case for the starting role, and that has cost him ground.
Jackson Kuwatch, meanwhile, is tracking more like the late-round flier he was expected to be. Special teams still looks like his lane, and there are backup linebacker jobs available, but he hasn’t done anything yet to push beyond that. That’s not a surprise, since he wasn’t expected to.
In Other News...
Xavier Legette Just Got A Real Chance To Earn Bigger Panthers Role
Xavier Legettes path to a bigger role in Carolina just opened up in a meaningful way. With Chris Brazzell II moved to injured reserve after a season-ending knee injury, the Panthers have a vacancy in their receiver rotation, and Legette is now in position to compete for work behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker as the team sorts out its passing-game pecking order.
It is the kind of opportunity Legette needed after spending camp trying to build momentum, and head coach Dave Canales has already made clear he likes where the second-year receiver is headed. The Panthers are still early in figuring out how their wideout group fits together, but Legette suddenly has a real opening to turn progress into snaps and make himself harder to leave off the field. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Quarterback Room
The Panthers took a look at Kyle Trask last week, but for now they are staying put at quarterback as they head into preseason. Head coach Dave Canales said the team is comfortable carrying Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett and Haynes King, and with injuries and roster management already shaping the roster, there is no urgency to add a fourth arm at the moment.
As Carolina gets ready for its first preseason game, that stance says plenty about how the team wants to handle the position right now. The staff is balancing depth, health and evaluation at a spot that always draws extra attention, and while Trasks workout suggested the Panthers were at least doing their homework, the current setup makes clear they are not rushing into another move. [Read more 🡒]