Panthers 53-man roster projection: Will they keep 7 WRs? A surprise cut on D-line

New York Times

a day ago

Derrick Brown showed up at NRG Stadium on Saturday in boots and a 10-gallon hat, looking the part of a Texas cowboy.
Once the preseason game started, the Carolina Panthers didn't look like a good football team. The first-team offense finished with minus-2 yards over two series in the 20-3 loss to the Houston Texans, while the defense resembled the same porous unit that was the NFL's worst in 2024.
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The Panthers have been outscored 50-13 in two preseason losses. But second-year coach Dave Canales said he's sticking with his plan to sit the starters in next week's exhibition finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In fairness, it wasn't a completely empty trip to Houston. The Panthers had a good showing in Thursday's joint practice with the Texans, with Young throwing a couple of touchdown passes and the defense coming up with two red zone interceptions against C.J. Stroud.
But the Panthers were putrid in just about every facet Saturday. As Canales looks for answers, The Athletic takes its first swing at a projected, 53-man roster.
On: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton
Notable cut: Jack Plummer
Toughest call: N/A
Young looks to be coming into his own in Year 3. He's more comfortable in the offense and seems to be on the same page as Canales after some hard feelings last year in the wake of his benching. Canales made the right call to play Young more this preseason, although his decision to pull him after just two series Saturday was a head-scratcher. Dalton, who left Saturday's exhibition after getting hit on his throwing elbow, is a capable backup who's earned the trust of the staff and has a good rapport with Young. Plummer tossed a pair of interceptions against the Texans, but could stick on the practice squad.
On: Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne
Notable cut: Raheem Blackshear
Toughest call: Not keeping a Blackshear as a fourth RB and return option.
Blackshear has been a contributor in Carolina since 2022, mostly as a returner. But his chances of making the team for a fourth year took a hit when the Panthers drafted Etienne, whose return experience and receiving skills lend themselves to the RB3 role. Roster math also plays into the decision to keep only three backs — specifically the plethora of quality receivers (which we'll get to momentarily).
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On: Tommy Tremble, Ja'Tavion Sanders, Mitchell Evans
Notable cut: James Mitchell
Toughest call: Making sure Tremble is healthy and ready for the start of the regular season.
Canales hasn't provided any recent updates on Tremble, who began training camp on the physically unable to perform list following back surgery in the spring. Tremble made the trip to Houston and has looked good running during practices. The Panthers are hopeful Tremble will be back soon. Even if Tremble isn't ready for Week 1, it makes sense to put him on the active roster if he's only going to miss a couple of games. If he starts the season on PUP, Tremble would have to miss the first four games.
On: Adam Thielen, Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, Jimmy Horn, Hunter Renfrow, David Moore
Notable cuts: Brycen Tremayne, Jacolby George
Toughest call: Choosing the last spot or two from among Renfrow/Moore/Tremayne. And bonus: Could the Panthers trade from what appears to be a surplus?
Keeping seven receivers seems excessive, and it's worth noting a lot can and will happen between now and the Aug. 26 roster cutdowns. I'm not sure how Dan Morgan and Canales will handle the bottom of the WR group. With his underneath route running, Renfrow brings a different element to the offense. But Canales has a history with Moore, who brings more special teams value than Renfrow. Then there's Tremayne, who keeps making plays — including three catches for a team-high 46 yards Saturday. These tough decisions are a good problem.
On: T Taylor Moton, T Ikem Ekwonu, G Damien Lewis, G Robert Hunt, C Austin Corbett, T Yosh Nijman, G/T Brady Christensen, C Cade Mays, G Chandler Zavala, G/C Jarrett Kingston
Notable cut: G Ja'Tyre Carter
Toughest call: Monitoring the health of several guards.
Lewis, a key free-agent pickup in 2024, strained his shoulder in the joint practice against the Cleveland Browns, while Zavala has been out since late July with a knee injury. Canales said Zavala could return for the Steelers exhibition, and has expressed optimism regarding Lewis' status. So it's possible both are good in another week. I initially had Carter making the 53. But then he injured his left knee against the Texans and was called for two penalties, including a hold that erased a 10-yard run by Etienne. Kingston, a guard who was active for seven games in 2024, might have helped his chances with a lot of reps Saturday at center.
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On: Derrick Brown, A'Shawn Robinson, Bobby Brown, Tershawn Wharton, Cam Jackson
Notable cuts: Shy Tuttle, LaBryan Ray, Jaden Crumedy
Toughest call: Moving on from a former starter and a recent draft pick.
Tuttle started 32 of 34 possible games the past two seasons. But he had just a half-sack over that span and last year was among the lowest-graded defensive linemen in the league by Pro Football Focus. After Tuttle restructured his contract during the offseason, cutting him would create $2.4 million in cap space with $3.3 million in dead space, according to Over the Cap. The 6-6, 328-pound Jackson has yet to make much of an impact and is dealing with a shoulder issue. But teams don't typically part with fifth-round picks after a few months. Crumedy was a sixth-round pick last year, before the rebuild of the DL room.
On: D.J. Wonnum, Patrick Jones, Nic Scourton, Princely Umanmielen, Thomas Incoom
Notable cut: DJ Johnson
Toughest call: Will numbers at other positions allow Panthers to reward Incoom for strong camp?
Late in the practice against the Texans, Incoom came darting off the edge for what would have been a sack of Stroud under game conditions. It's been a familiar sight throughout camp, with Incoom — who spent last season shuttling between the practice squad and the active roster — has outplayed Johnson, the third-round pick in 2023. Incoom had four special teams tackles in 2024 and that will likely be his role this year if he makes the team. The Panthers are monitoring the health of Scourton after the second-round pick was hospitalized with a collapsed lung he sustained Thursday. Scourton, who was driven back to Charlotte, is week to week.
4th down stop!
📺: NFL+ pic.twitter.com/2QFYMLTweE
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 16, 2025
On: Trevin Wallace, Christian Rozeboom, Claudin Cherelus, Jacoby Windmon, Jon Rhattigan
Notable cuts: Bam Martin-Scott
Toughest call: Will Morgan add to the LB group via the waiver wire?
The Panthers' defense had a jarring start to camp with the release of Josey Jewell, the veteran whose post-concussion symptoms remained throughout the offseason. Rozeboom, the former Los Angeles Ram, has taken over for Jewell as the defensive signal-caller. But this group still feels a little light, especially with Cherelus sidelined with a groin injury. Don't be surprised if Morgan, the former Panthers linebacker, brings in a reinforcement. Martin-Scott, an undrafted free agent from South Carolina, would be an ideal candidate for the practice squad if he doesn't make the 53.
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On: Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade, Corey Thornton, Shemar Bartholomew, Player not on the roster
Notable cut: Akayleb Evans, Tre Swilling
Toughest call: N/A
The Panthers had seven cornerbacks on their Week 1 roster last year, including three they claimed on waivers at roster cutdowns. That listed included Bartholomew, who stuck around all of 2024 but had a rough time in coverage Saturday in Houston. The Panthers don't have the No. 1 waiver position like they did last summer. Still, Morgan will scan the waiver wire for long, physical corners in the mold of Horn, Jackson and Thornton, who's been one of the biggest surprises of camp. The depth behind Smith-Wade at nickel is lacking.
On: Tre'von Moehrig, Nick Scott, Lathan Ransom, Demani Richardson
Notable cut: Isaac Gifford
Toughest call: Deciding whether the Panthers need another veteran on the back end.
Canales said he's been starting Scott in part because he likes how the veteran communicates the coverage calls, especially with Moehrig new to the system. But it seems likely Ransom, the fourth-round pick from Ohio State, will overtake Scott in the near future — unless Morgan signs an experienced safety. Justin Simmons, who was with Ejiro Evero in Denver, remains available.
On: P Sam Martin, LS J.J. Jansen, K Ryan Fitzgerald
Notable cut: Matthew Wright
Toughest call: Is the kicker even on the roster?
Fitzgerald, who displayed a big leg at Florida State, felt like the favorite entering camp. Wright had kicked well on the skinny goal posts during practices. But the tide might have turned Saturday, when Fitzgerald made a 52-yard field goal and Wright missed from 55. If Canales doesn't feel locked in on either one, there's no shortage of available kickers — and there will be more on Aug. 26. But specials teams coordinator Tracy Smith said last week he believes the Panthers 'have NFL kickers on our team.'
(Top photo of Brycen Tremayne: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
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