Panthers beat reporter offers up surprise challenger for team's WR competition
Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer joined WFNZ's Will Palaszczuk on Thursday's episode of The Kyle Bailey Show. When talking about the Panthers' crowded receiver room, Kaye brought up a dark-horse candidate who has a shot at rounding out the group—"Dirty" Dan Chisena.
"Realistically, they're probably gonna keep six [wide receivers]. If they keep seven, I think the seventh guy's Chisena . . . just for his special teams ability," Kaye stated. "You lost Feleipe Franks, you lost Lonnie Johnson, you lost Sam Franklin. David Moore and Dan Chisena are guys that are glue dudes who are also really good on special teams, and you need to make up for those losses as well."
Chisena, who is set to enter his sixth NFL campaign, appeared in six games for the Panthers in 2024. 81 of his 100 total snaps came on special teams—where he recorded a pair of tackles in return coverage.
Returning to the squad for 2025, however, may not be easy for the 28-year-old veteran.
Carolina has four locks—or near-locks—in 2025 first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan, 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette, two-time Pro Bowler Adam Thielen and Jalen Coker. Moore, 2025 sixth-rounder Jimmy Horn Jr. and Hunter Renfrow, who missed the 2024 season due to ulcerative colitis, will also challenge for the backend of the bunch.
But, as Kaye notes, the Panthers will have to patch up their major departures on special teams—and head coach Dave Canales really values special teams.
"I think it's gonna be very difficult," Canales said last month of choosing between wideouts. "I think that we're gonna have to take it through the preseason games, and see who can help us. And special teams is gonna be such a huge piece of that puzzle. How can these guys help us in the coverage units? Can they help us as a returner? Those things, that added value—if it's even the special teamer—makes the team.
"So that's the part where we get to challenge our guys. Find a role, take this thing seriously. You're not here just to catch passes. We only get so many helmets on game day, so we need all of you. We need you guys to contribute in different ways.'
Canales and the Panthers kept seven receivers on their initial 53-man roster last season.
Players are scheduled to get back to Charlotte for the start of training camp next week, beginning with rookie arrivals on Monday.
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