It was a beautiful August afternoon Saturday in western New York, where Bryce Young put together a picture-perfect touchdown drive and then got out of harm’s way. Carolina Panthers fans will see Young again in two weeks in New Orleans. In his first preseason appearance this summer, the Panthers’ second-year quarterback led a touchdown drive on his only series before giving way to third-teamer Jack Plummer in the 31-26 win at Buffalo.
Young completed 6-of-8 passes for 70 yards, highlighted by an off-platform, fourth-down pass to Diontae Johnson and an 8-yard scoring strike to tight end Jordan Matthews . Advertisement The 12-play, 85-yard drive came against the Bills’ backups on defense. But considering the first-team offense hadn’t scored a touchdown since the fourth quarter of a Christmas Eve loss to Green Bay, the Panthers will take it.
With Young and the starters out early, the rest of the game was a final chance for players on the roster bubble to make a strong, final impression. Several did just that, as addressed in our last 53-man projection before Tuesday’s cutdown day. Quarterback (2) On: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton Notable cuts: Jack Plummer, Jake Luton (on injured reserve) Toughest call: N/A After watching the first two exhibition games, Young and the offense ended the preseason on a positive note.
It’s dangerous to read too much into one preseason series and three weeks of training camp practices. But the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner looked more confident and composed this summer, likely a product of having a year of experience and playing in a system tailored to fit his skill set. Whether that transfers to the regular season remains to be seen.
But Young should benefit from Dave Canales’ positivity and quarterback track record, not to mention beefed-up interior protection and an improved group of playmakers. Running back (4) On: Chuba Hubbard , Miles Sanders , Mike Boone , Raheem Blackshear Notable cuts: None. Toughest call: Whether to keep three or four backs until Jonathon Brooks is ready.
Boone has been one of the biggest surprises this summer, hitting the holes hard, holding on to the ball and earning the trust of Canales and the offensive coaches. The 29-year-old ran for 20 first-half yards and a touchdown against the Bills. Blackshear has been the Panthers’ primary kick returner the past two seasons, but didn’t play in any preseason games and has been bothered by a hamstring injury.
If the Panthers decide to go with four, the No. 4 back figures to serve as the placeholder until Brooks, the second-round pick from Texas, is cleared to return following ACL surgery in November. Here comes the Boone 📺: WJZY (FOX) pic.
twitter.com/e2lZ1LGl2U — Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 24, 2024 Tight end (4) On: Tommy Tremble , Ian Thomas , Ja’Tavion Sanders , Jordan Matthews Notable cuts: None. Toughest call: Making sure Thomas is ready for Week 1.
Matthews has authored a cool, feel-good story, having transitioned from an impact wide receiver with the Eagles to a backup tight end late in his career. I didn’t have him on the 53 until Saturday, when the 32-year-old capped a strong preseason with three catches for 21 yards and the touchdown from Young. The Panthers played without Tremble and Thomas, who has missed several weeks with a calf injury.
Tremble practiced all week, but the Panthers have taken a cautious approach with their injured players this summer. Thomas’ status for the opener against the Saints remains uncertain. Advertisement Wide receiver (5) On: Adam Thielen , Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette , Jonathan Mingo , Ihmir Smith-Marsette Notable trade candidate: Terrace Marshall Notable cuts: David Moore , Jalen Coker Toughest calls: Can the Panthers get anything for Marshall? Marshall made yet another play Saturday when he shook two tacklers and scored on a 15-yard pass from Plummer.
It continued a theme for Marshall, who had two scores in the joint practice with the Jets . But sometimes a player needs a fresh start. The Panthers have been shopping Marshall to teams that might need a receiver, according to a high-ranking official with another team.
The Bills might be in the market after taking fliers on a couple of other veteran wideouts. Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady was with Marshall at LSU, and had a strong voice in the Panthers’ decision to draft him. Smith-Marsette’s status also could impact Marshall: The speed receiver left Saturday’s exhibition with an ankle injury after a couple of big returns.
breaking tackles and in for the score 📺: WJZY (FOX) pic.twitter.com/l1nFYN8ZcT — Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 24, 2024 Offensive line (9) On: T Taylor Moton , T Ikem Ekwonu , G Robert Hunt , G Damien Lewis , C Austin Corbett , T Yosh Nijman , G/T Brady Christense n, G/C Cade Mays , G Chandler Zavala Notable cuts: T Ricky Lee , G Jack Anderson Toughest call: Determining whether a castoff from another team could help.
This week was a good one for the offensive line. Lewis started practicing again after missing time due to a shoulder issue and an absence for a personal matter, while Nijman (leg) was activated from the physically unable to perform list. Nijman, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal in March, is an important piece up front.
The former Packer is insurance behind Moton, who’s been given a lot of maintenance days this summer, and Ekwonu, who’s coming off a tough 2023. The Panthers hope to get Mays back from his shoulder sprain soon. If the 2002 sixth-rounder from Tennessee is healthy, he slots as Corbett’s backup, allowing Christensen to concentrate on only two positions.
Advertisement Defensive line (6) On: Derrick Brown , A’Shawn Robinson , Shy Tuttle , T.J. Smith , Nick Thurman , LaBryan Ray Notable cuts: N/A Toughest call: Is Jaden Crumedy safe? This week’s trade of rookie linebacker and seventh-rounder Michael Barrett should signal that Morgan won’t feel obligated to hang on to this year’s late-round picks.
Crumedy, a sixth-rounder from Mississippi State, has been sidelined since sustaining a high-ankle sprain in the first preseason game at New England. While Crumedy has been out, Smith has continued to supply interior pressure — he had a sack in each of the first two exhibitions — and Ray returned from an illness. The Panthers could try to sneak Crumedy through waivers or put him on injured reserve.
Considering he was the only defensive lineman Morgan drafted (Barrett was the second of two LBs), it’s also possible Crumedy bumps one of the other backups from the 53. Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. document.
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forEach((el) => { el.setAttribute("style", "pointer-events: none;");}) Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Outside linebacker (5) On: Jadeveon Clowney , K’Lavon Chaisson , DJ Johnson , Eku Leota , player not currently on roster Notable cuts: N/A Toughest call: Landing on an effective edge rotation until D.
J. Wonnum is healthy. Nothing has changed since our first roster projection two weeks ago.
Wonnum (quad) and Amare Barno (knee) remain on the PUP list, none of the other edge guys not named Clowney have inspired much confidence and Yannick Ngakoue remains available. There have been no indications Wonnum or Barno is close to returning. And while Leota has had a couple of flash plays, this remains a position where Morgan figures to be active — whether it’s adding a free agent or taking advantage of the Panthers’ top claiming position on the waiver wire.
Inside linebacker (5) On: Shaq Thompson , Josey Jewell , Trevin Wallace , Claudin Cherelus , Chandler Wooten Notable cuts: Tae Davis , Aaron Beasley Toughest call: Will one of the last linebacker spots go to a guy not on the roster? Advertisement While Morgan wasted no time moving on from Barrett, the GM’s selection of Wallace in the third round looks shrewd — at least based on his preseason performance. The ex-Kentucky linebacker has a good size-speed combination. But his ball skills have been a revelation for a defense desperate to find players who can take the ball away.
Davis was in the midst of a strong preseason before getting hurt in the second half against the Jets when his foot got stuck in Bank of America Stadium’s artificial turf. If he recovers quickly, he could get the final spot ahead of Wooten. GO DEEPER Panthers stock report: Who's up, who's down and who fell victim to the BoA Stadium turf Cornerback (5) On: Jaycee Horn , Troy Hill , Chau Smith-Wade , Mike Jackson , D’Shawn Jamison Notable cuts: Dicaprio Bootle Toughest calls: Jamison over Bootle.
In trading for Jackson, the Panthers acquired a big corner (6-1, 210) with speed — something they lacked at the spot opposite Horn. Jackson started 17 games for Seattle in 2022, Canales’ last year with the Seahawks . Jackson will compete for a starting job while Dane Jackson continues his rehab from a significant hamstring injury, although a personnel official with another team views him as more of a rotational corner.
The Panthers have been giving Smith-Wade more outside reps, although his size still lends itself better to nickel. Safety (5) On: Xavier Woods , Jordan Fuller , Nick Scott , Rudy Ford , Jammie Robinson Notable cuts: Alex Cook , Demani Richardson Toughest call: Finalizing the spots after the three starting-caliber safeties, as Ejiro Evero referred to Woods, Fuller and Scott. Because safety is the Panthers’ deepest position group, a couple of good players are not going to make the cut.
In this projection, Cook and Richardson were left out despite strong showings that included interceptions either in practice or preseason games. Both players would be obvious practice-squad candidates if they clear waivers. Fans haven’t heard much about Ford, but he’s a veteran who was brought in to fill the special teams void created by Sam Franklin ’s broken foot.
Robinson’s ability to play safety and nickel gave him the nod here. Advertisement Specialists (3) On: K Eddy Pineiro , P Johnny Hekker , LS J.J.
Jansen Notable cut: N/A Toughest call: None The Panthers might need to start resting their kickers against Buffalo in the final preseason game. Eddy Pineiro left with a hamstring injury Saturday — two years after replacing Zane Gonzalez when Gonzalez sustained a season-ending groin injury against the Bills in the third exhibition. Pineiro apparently hurt himself on a 45-yard field goal at the end of the first half.
Punter Johnny Hekker handled the kickoffs in the second half. (Photo of Jordan Matthews: Gregory Fisher / USA Today).
