
Panthers training camp preview: OL features the team's biggest battle of the summer
Which players are sure to make it through the summer and onto the team's initial 53-man roster? Are there any wild-card candidates who can leave a lasting impression in the coming weeks? And which battles are worth keeping an eye on?
Here is our training camp preview for the Panthers' offensive line:
Locks
Carolina is boasting one of the more solid offensive lines they've had in some time. Their starting unit is almost entirely set and will be backed up by a few versatile pieces in Christensen, Nijman and, possibly, Mays.
There is, however, a bit of uncertainty surrounding the future of Moton as he enters the final season of his contract. The Panthers don't seem all too certain about the long-term health of the soon-to-be 31-year-old, who has played in 129 of a possible 132 games during his eight-year career.
Likely to make it
After a rough rookie campaign, Zavala gave a decent account of himself from both guard positions in 2024. The former fourth-rounder earned a 71.2 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus, with a 73.9 mark in pass-blocking and a 71.9 mark on the ground over 198 offensive snaps.
On the bubble
Kingston might have the best chance of this bunch to claim an initial roster spot, having already spent the 2024 season on Carolina's active roster.
Battle to watch
In what is perhaps the Panthers' biggest bout of the summer, Corbett will try to reclaim the starting center job from Mays.
Corbett, who transitioned from guard to center in 2024, had a solid start derailed by a season-ending biceps injury in Week 5. Mays took over at the middle for eight of the last nine games, allowing just 10 pressures over 308 pass-blocking opportunities.
Can Corbett stave off Mays, who helped in the late-season revival of quarterback Bryce Young, and his recent injury history?
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Joe Thuney (No. 3)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Next up at No. 3 is left guard Joe Thuney, who will be a key role in shoring up Chicago's offensive line and protecting quarterback Caleb Williams. Background Position: Left guard Age: 32 Experience: 10th season 2025 cap hit: $8 million 2024 recap Thuney has established himself as one of the best guards in the NFL, and he showcased why last season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Last season, Thuney started all 17 games for the Chiefs. While he played primarily at left guard, he kicked over to left tackle for three contests as Kansas City dealt with injuries along the offensive line. Thuney once again served as key protection for quarterback Patrick Mahomes as the Chiefs once again made a Super Bowl appearance. Thuney was named to the Pro Bowl and earned a First-Team All-Pro nod for his 2024 outing. 2025 outlook The Bears focused on overhauling the offensive line this offseason, including the additions of guard Jonah Jackson (via trade) and center Drew Dalman (in free agency). But their biggest addition was Thuney, who was acquired in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. Shortly after, Chicago signed him to a two-year, $35 million deal to keep him through 2027. Thuney has the potential to have the biggest impact given his resume and proven production. He's coming off an All-Pro season where he even kicked out to left tackle, but he thrived at left guard protecting Patrick Mahomes. Now, Thuney brings that experience, production and leadership to a revamped Chicago offensive line that will be crucial to quarterback Caleb Williams' success. And if rookie Ozzy Trapilo wins the starting left tackle job, Thuney will be even more crucial for Trapilo as he acclimates to the pro game. The Bears will only go as far as Williams takes them. And Williams will only go as far as his offensive line allows. Thuney will play an integral role in the offensive line's success. Big question: Can Thuney continue to be a top NFL guard in Chicago? The Bears invested a lot in Thuney -- a fourth round pick in 2026 and $33.5 million guaranteed -- so they're banking on him to serve an integral role along the offensive line. Thuney is a two-time First-Team All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler and four-time Super Bowl winner and one of the best guards in the entire NFL. Thuney's an elite pass blocker and has been the best pass-blocking guard, per Pro Football Focus, since 2021 with a 90.2 grade. But the question remains whether Thuney will continue that level of play outside of a winning organization like Kansas City. Chicago overhauled the entire interior offensive line, and Thuney will serve as an anchor in the trenches when it comes to protecting quarterback Caleb Williams. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025


USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
49ers add former top 10 pick to help with CB depth after injury to starter
The San Francisco 49ers are adding some intriguing depth at cornerback after an injury to one of their starters left them shorthanded. ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday reported former New York Giants No. 10 overall pick Eli Apple is signing with the 49ers on a one-year contract. Apple, 29, will get an opportunity at CB with Renardo Green dealing with a hamstring injury. It's been a tumultuous nine-year career for Apple, who has been on six teams during that stretch. He spent two-and-a-half years with the Giants before joining the New Orleans Saints. He was there for a year-and-a-half, then signed with the Carolina Panthers for a year. He was with the Cincinnati Bengals for two seasons and then with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, and the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. Apple has played in only 14 games with four starts over the last two years. He has 10 pass breakups, one interception and 48 tackles in that stretch. For his career the former first-rounder has six interceptions and 61 pass breakups in 102 games (82 starts). According to Pro Football Focus he has allowed 32 touchdowns and allows a quarterback rating of 100.4 when targeted. He'll now join a cornerback group that has a ton of uncertainty. Green isn't expected to miss a ton of time. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he anticipates he'll be back for the second week of the preseason in mid-August, but the 49ers need more CBs to take some practice reps. However, given the murkiness on the depth chart, there's a real chance Apple could play his way into the conversation for a roster spot if he steps into a young CB room and performs in camp and the preseason. More 49ers: Jauan Jennings dealing with dangerous injury for 2nd time this offseason


USA Today
11 hours ago
- USA Today
Panthers rookie OLB Princely Umanmielen stands up for franchise legend Cam Newton
A Carolina Panthers rookie is not tolerating any Cam Newton slander. The franchise legend has recently received quite a bit of vitriol, almost all of it personal, for his take on Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts. After Newton recently excluded the Super Bowl LIX Most Valuable Player from his list of the NFL's top ten quarterbacks, his career has been poked and prodded at by dissenting talking heads, analysts and fans alike. Newton himself punched back this past week, calling out a handful of celebrity detractors including ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, Ryan Clark and Dan Orlovsky, Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens and rapper Gillie Da Kid. Well, he got some backup on Sunday—when Panthers outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen took a stand for the team's all-time leading passer on Twitter/X . . . Oh, and he's not just saying that because he plays for the Panthers . . . Umanmielen's defense of Newton will probably endear him to the Carolina faithful even further. The 2025 third-round pick already had plenty of Panthers fans smiling after the first week of training camp, where he picked up a few would-be sacks on back-to-back days at practice. He also poked fun at his first big play, which caused an abrupt end to the opening outing on Wednesday. Although he was eventually cleared of being overzealous on his strip-sack of Bryce Young, Umanmielen hilariously acknowledged that he'd try to keep his quarterback clean moving forward . . . There seems to be little doubt that Umanmielen, hands included, is quickly becoming a favorite in Carolina. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.