The Carolina Panthers have already logged two preseason games, including the Hall of Fame Game, and that’s enough time to start sorting out a few things. It’s also been enough time to leave some big questions hanging.
One of the biggest is at linebacker, where Dave Canales said the LB2 battle between Claudin Cherelus and Trevin Wallace is still “neck and neck” after reviewing Saturday’s tape. A few weeks ago, Canales opened the door to competition at the spot, which came as a surprise because Wallace had been expected to handle it more comfortably. Instead, his camp struggles turned it into a real fight.
Wallace was listed first on the unofficial depth chart, but that doesn’t settle much. The real issue is still the same: who will line up next to Devin Lloyd? Canales wants that player to bring a similar style, and that will end up deciding the job.
There’s also the matter of Darren Waller, who officially signed Monday and admitted the playbook was “Greek” to him. With only two preseason games left and roster cuts to 53 looming, time is not exactly on his side.
The Panthers brought Waller in hoping he would give the tight end group a boost and become a real weapon. But if he can’t get up to speed quickly, it raises the obvious question of whether they can justify spending a roster spot on a tight end who still doesn’t know the offense.
At quarterback, the picture is still fuzzy. Carolina has kept the preseason approach deliberately simple, and that makes sense for these games.
Even so, the Panthers still haven’t shown what a Brad Idzik-Bryce Young offense can actually become. So far, the evidence has been nine ugly plays without much protection in front of Young.
That’s why getting him comfortable in the new system during game action matters so much. There’s still time, but this is the kind of unresolved issue that can snowball fast if it doesn’t get cleaned up.
The backfield brings another unknown. The Panthers are working with a different running back mix this season, with Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks replacing Hubbard and Rico Dowdle. A new play-caller should also change how the ground game looks.
But preseason may not tell that story. Hubbard is unlikely to play, and Brooks figures to be used very sparingly because of his dubious health history. So the running game question is still out there, waiting for a better stage to get answered.
In Other News...
Bryce Young Enters Carolinas Biggest Debate Yet
Bryce Young is heading into the kind of season quarterbacks usually spend years trying to avoid, a year when every throw feels tied to bigger questions about the Carolina Panthers future. The roster around him has improved enough to create optimism, especially on defense, and the team has added some offensive help, but the situation still asks Young to carry a heavy load while proving he can be the long-term answer.
Even with those upgrades, the support system is far from settled, which is why this season carries so much weight for both sides. Carolina can talk about development and patience, but the reality is Young has to show real progress in a lineup that still has holes and depth concerns, or the conversation quickly shifts from an extension to the possibility of another reset at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Have Found The Tight End Help This Offense Needed
The Panthers have spent much of the offseason looking for a tighter fit at tight end, and the signing of veteran Darren Waller gives them a proven option with real pass-catching upside. Carolinas current group produced just over 600 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season, which left room for a more dynamic presence in the middle of the field and near the goal line.
Waller arrives with a track record that suggests he can change that equation if he earns a spot on the final roster. The 32-year-old was productive in his most recent action and drew strong marks from Pro Football Focus, but the bigger question for Carolina is whether that form carries over long enough to make him a factor in the red zone once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]