The Carolina Panthers have one more joint practice and one more preseason game left, and Friday night against the Houston Texans is shaping up as a final test for a few players trying to force their way onto the 53-man roster. For some of them, one more solid outing might be the difference between sticking around and getting squeezed out.
John Metchie is one of the names to watch. Most roster projections, though not ours, leave him off the final 53.
Even with signs of production on offense and special teams, he still feels like something of an afterthought in the Panthers’ plans. If that changes, it likely has to happen now.
He needs a strong Friday to make the team’s decision harder.
AJ Dillon, meanwhile, has already put together a really good preseason and looks safe for the moment. But nothing is locked in this time of year, and the Panthers still have a lot to sort through. If they’re going to keep four running backs - with Trevor Etienne probably among the safe bets - Dillon has to keep applying pressure and keep making the case.
Aaron Hall has earned this last chance. Injuries and a shocking retirement cracked the door open for the Duke product, and he’s taken advantage well enough to stay in the conversation. Still, with a cluster of defensive linemen fighting for those final roster spots, he can’t afford to be ordinary against Houston.
Ja’Tavion Sanders also finds himself in a tricky spot. Tommy Tremble is safe.
Mitchell Evans is probably safe. Darren Waller, in our view, deserves a roster spot, and the Panthers didn’t bring him in just to practice for three weeks and move on.
That leaves Sanders needing a big performance this weekend if he wants to change the minds of the people making the decisions.
Chandler Zavala is another player whose status remains unsettled. Some projections leave him off the roster; ours does not, mainly because the Panthers don’t have many bodies to work with.
A cut would not be a shock. After a surprisingly strong Hall of Fame Game, he fell off sharply in the following weeks, and that’s painted an ugly picture of the backup offensive line.
If he wants to stay in the mix, Friday is his chance to repair that image.
At center, Luke Fortner appears to be the favorite to start. But Sam Hecht made a real impression against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and if he follows that up with another strong showing this weekend, the Panthers could be staring at a tough Week 1 call.
In Other News...
Bryce Young Faces Fresh Panthers Pressure After Ugly Day Vs Texans
A rough joint practice against Houston was always going to sharpen the focus on Bryce Young, and it did exactly that for the Panthers. Young took four sacks and threw two interceptions as Carolina worked through an ugly day against the Texans, a reminder that every snap this summer comes with a little more scrutiny for a quarterback trying to steady his place at the center of the offense.
Dave Canales moved quickly to frame the bigger picture, confirming Young remains Carolinas franchise quarterback while making clear the front office will handle any long-term contract talks. Young is already entering the 2026 season with a sizable deal on the books, and after last seasons uneven play, the pressure to show progress only grows when days like this pop up in practice. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Just Put Carolina's Next Big Decision In Focus
Bryce Young has moved from question mark to centerpiece in Carolina, at least for now. Panthers head coach Dave Canales made it clear Young is the franchise quarterback and pointed to the progress he has made, a notable shift in tone for a player whose future once felt much less certain.
The contract side is still the part worth watching. Young is already secured through 2027 after the team exercised his fifth-year option, but the Panthers have not worked out a long-term extension yet, leaving Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis to sort through a decision that could shape the roster well beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Receiver Battle Could Leave One Praised Veteran On The Edge
With the Panthers moving toward their August 30 roster deadline, the receiver room is shaping up as one of the more crowded competitions on the roster. ESPNs Mike Kaye projects rookies Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette as locks, while Brycen Tremayne, Jaseem Reed and Jimmy Horn Jr. also appear to have enough momentum to stick, leaving little room for everyone else in the mix.
That is where veteran David Moore comes in, and not in a comfortable place. Kayes projection has Moore on the outside looking in, a notable twist for a player with experience who has spent the summer trying to hold off younger challengers. The final call still belongs to Carolinas coaching staff, but with cutdown day approaching, the battle at receiver looks like it could end with at least one familiar name squeezed off the 53-man roster. [Read more 🡒]