It’s the last chance for players to make an impression in live game action before cut day.
The Carolina Panthers wrap up their preseason slate with a visit to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday afternoon. It’ll be nice to watch some daytime football. It’ll almost feel like the real thing. While it isn’t, and the result of the game doesn’t matter, there will still be some very real competition taking place. The Panthers have a few spots on the depth chart that are open for the taking, and a strong showing in the live action of the preseason can give some players sway over others.
The Panthers are mostly set with their starters. You can tell who those guys are by looking at the list of players that haven’t suited up in either of the first two preseason games. The only real competition on offense is the split of snaps at running back between Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders and the snaps at wide receiver between Jonathan Mingo and Xavier Legette. However, those are going to be decided more from camp and practice since the starters are only expected to play a couple of series.
So let’s look at the battles throughout the rest of the depth chart that may be decided on Saturday.
Who starts opposite Jadeveon Clowney
The Panthers likely had that spot earmarked for DJ Wonnum if he got healthy in time, but it’s unclear if that’s going to happen. Last year’s third round pick DJ Johnson is currently listed as the starter, but Eku Leota has made some plays in the preseason and K’Lavon Chaisson is there.
Cornerback depth
The Panthers lost Dane Jackson and Lamar Jackson to injuries, so they went and traded for Michael Jackson to fill the void. He’s presumably got a spot on the roster since the Panthers thought he was worth trading for. Depending on how many corners the Panthers keep, that leaves Dicaprio Bootle, D’Shawn Jamison, and Chau Smith-Wade to fight for one or two more spots once Dane comes back in a month or so. Bootle and Jamison have both had some moments in the preseason while Smith-Wade is one of this year’s draft picks and is listed as the backup nickel corner. It’ll be interesting to see how the group performs and how the Panthers elect to structure that unit. Oh and Jammie Robinson is still hanging out there too.
Safeties while Sam Franklin is out
The Panthers suffered a big hit to their special teams a few weeks ago when Sam Franklin Jr. broke his foot. The team is hopeful that he’ll be back this season, but in the meantime, someone has to step in. Demani Richardson had the interception last week, but he’s currently the last safety listed on the depth chart. There’s probably only one or two guys the team will keep after Jordan Fuller and Xavier Woods.
Which wide receiver gets left out
The Panthers have four locks to make the roster—Legette, Mingo, Adam Thielen, and Diontae Johnson. There are three more guys that seem like good candidates to make the roster—Terrace Marshall Jr., Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and David Moore. The Panthers (probably) aren’t going to keep seven receivers. Smith-Marsette is the listed starter at punt returner and David Moore backs up on both kick and punt returns. That leaves Marshall as the odd man out. Can he do enough to warrant a spot on the roster?