The Panthers went into the season knowing exactly where the weak spot was: their pass rush. That part has been the problem all along, and Carolina spent free agency trying to fix it after finishing with the NFL’s worst pass rush in 2025.
They made a major move by signing Jaelan Phillips, and the early returns have been encouraging. The issue is that the room still isn’t deep enough. That became even more obvious when second-year EDGE Nic Scourton tore his ACL on the first day of training camp, leaving Carolina short-handed before the season even got going.
Now Phillips is dealing with his own setback. He injured his hamstring in Carolina’s Week 4 win over the Detroit Lions, and his availability for Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles is uncertain. That game would also send him back to Philadelphia, where he played last season.
The concern doesn’t stop there. Hamstring injuries can linger, and they can flare up again if a player tries to push back too quickly.
That makes the trade market worth watching, and one name that makes sense for Carolina is Los Angeles Chargers EDGE Khalil Mack. CBS Sports’ Carter Bahns included Mack on his Monday list of trade-deadline candidates, and with the deadline now less than a month away, the veteran edge rusher could be one of the players on the move.
The fit is easy to see. Mack is still a talented player, but he’s 35 years old and playing on an expiring contract. The Chargers are 0-5 and buried, and if they don’t somehow mount an unprecedented turnaround, they should be looking ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft and dealing veterans for value.
Carolina fits the profile of a team that could use help right now. The Panthers are in the mix as a club trying to make a playoff push, and they wouldn’t have to empty the cupboard to get Mack. A reasonable price, according to the source, would be a fourth- or sixth-round pick.
That’s manageable for the Panthers, especially since they don’t have a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft but do own two fourth-rounders and a sixth.
In Other News...
Taylor Moton Returns After Frightening Scare In Huge Panthers Boost
Taylor Moton was back on the practice field for Carolina this week after a frightening health scare that briefly pulled the veteran right tackle away from football altogether. He had been diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, a diagnosis serious enough to bring coughing up blood and a three-month stretch on blood thinners, but even while he was sidelined from playing, Moton stayed around the team and helped coach the offensive line.
For the Panthers, his return is about more than just getting a starting tackle back in the mix. Motons presence steadies a unit that leaned on his experience even when he could not suit up, and coach Dave Canales has made clear he expects that influence to continue. The next question is how quickly Moton can ramp back up after missing game action, but simply getting him back on the field is a major step for a team that has already had to adjust without him. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Morgan Has A Panthers Roster Decision Fans Should Watch
The Panthers roster is opening up at an interesting time, with defensive tackle Cam Jackson going on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury. Carolina also designated Trevor Etienne, Taylor Moton and Tershawn Wharton to return to practice, though Etienne is the only one expected back in the lineup soon. That leaves Dan Morgan with some room to maneuver, and the next move is less about filling one hole than deciding how best to use the extra space.
Moton and Wharton each come with their own timelines, and the Panthers have three weeks to determine whether either player is ready to be activated. Morgan has some flexibility here, and the choice could say plenty about how the team views its depth and immediate needs. For a roster that is still sorting out who can help now and who needs more time, these are the kind of decisions that tend to matter later. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Passing Game Awaits One Key Answer Before Eagles Matchup
Jalen Cokers week has become one of the quieter but more important developments for Carolina as the Panthers get ready for their Week 6 matchup with the Eagles. The young wide receiver has been working back from a quadriceps injury, missed the Week 4 game and was back in an unofficial practice session ahead of this one, a sign his recovery is moving in the right direction. He has reportedly been feeling good and practicing daily, which matters for a passing game that could use another steady option.
Dave Canales has already hinted that Coker is trending toward a return, but the final word still has to come from the teams official injury report. For a Panthers offense trying to settle in, his status is one of the more relevant questions hanging over the buildup to Sunday, because it could shape how Carolina approaches a Philadelphia defense that tends to demand every available weapon. [Read more 🡒]