LOCKED IN FOR PLAY
35 players likely to make initial roster
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (25) celebrates his first-quarter touchdown at EverBank Stadium in the second preseason game on Aug. 21 in Jacksonville, Fla.
NFL | CAROLINA PANTHERS
Doomsday for hundreds of NFL players comes on Sunday — when teams have to trim their rosters from 90 players down to 53 in preparation for the regular season. The deadline is 6 p.m. ET.
Some players will catch on right away with other teams through waivers and free agency, and others may get signed later during the season. But for many, it will represent the end of their dreams to play NFL football this year.
For the Carolina Panthers, we have a pretty strong idea of who's in and who's out at this point in the summer. Here are 35 players whose jobs should be safe going into cutdown day, plus a few more who we project will start on injured reserve.
Quarterbacks
■Bryce Young
■Kenny Pickett
Carolina's current No. 3 quarterback Kyle Trask was only signed to make up for the absence of rookie Haynes King, who injured his hamstring while scoring the walkoff touchdown in the Hall of Fame Game earlier this month. King could wind up on the initial roster, the practice squad or even in another team's locker room if the Panthers dare to sneak him through waivers.
Running backs
■ Chuba Hubbard
■Jonathon Brooks
■Trevor Etienne
After these three, it's pretty tough to sort out who might make the cut. Of the other candidates, AJ Dillon looked the most impressive during the preseason, and we already know he's an effective short-yardage option from his time in Green Bay.
Wide receivers
■ Tetairoa McMillan
■ Jalen Coker
■ Xavier Legette
Realistically, veteran David Moore, special teams ace Brycen Tremayne, speedster Jimmy Horn Jr., and preseason standouts Ja'seem Reed and John Metchie III will be competing for the final three spots.
Injured reserve: Chris Brazzell II (knee)
Tight ends
■ Tommy Tremble
■ Mitchell Evans
Feleipe Franks' value on special teams could make him the third tight end in. 2024 fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders seems to be in a bit of limbo. And the recently-signed Darren Waller could still be cut and immediately stashed to the practice squad.
Offensive linemen
■ Rasheed Walker
■ Damien Lewis
■ Luke Fortner
■ Robert Hunt
■ Monroe Freeling
■ Sam Hecht
We can get pretty close to assuming that Brady Christensen will make the cut, given his versatility and experience within the system. But we can't say the same for Stone Forsythe, Jake Curhan, Chandler Zavala or any of the other low-profile linemen in the mix.
Injured reserve: Ikem Ekwonu (knee), Taylor Moton (lung)
Defensive linemen
■ Derrick Brown
■ Lee Hunter
■ Cam Jackson
Bobby Brown III is one of the most intriguing cut candidates. His contract makes it a realistic possibility, even if they need to surround the better Brown with as much talent as possible. Either way, Panthers fans should hope to see Hunter in the starting lineup.
Injured reserve: Tershawn Wharton (neck)
Outside linebackers
■ Jaelan Phillips
■ Pat Jones II
■ Princely Umanmielen
This group looks a lot thinner with Scourton's name crossed out. Unless Carolina has a surprise star waiting on their sidelines among the likes of Trevis Gipson, Thomas Incoom and Cam Gill, the Panthers have to seriously consider adding help here before Week 1.
Injured reserve: Nic Scourton (knee)
Inside linebackers
■ Devin Lloyd
■ Trevin Wallace
■ Claudin Cherelus
Bobby Wagner is still a free agent. This really doesn't need to be that hard.
Cornerback
■ Jaycee Horn
■ Mike Jackson
■ Will Lee III
The boundary positions represented here are set in stone, but the nickel competition between Corey Thornton and Chau Smith-Wade may still be up in the air. Odds are, it will come down to whoever performs better in Friday night's preseason finale against Houston.
Safety
■ Tre'von Moehrig
■ Nick Scott
■ Lathan Ransom
■ Zakee Wheatley
Wheatley has flashed enough in the preseason to be worth considering as a starter over Nick Scott, but head coach Dave Canales is unlikely to make that move this late in the game. If anyone else makes it here, Demani Richardson and Isaiah Simmons are their best remaining options.
Specialists
■ Ryan Fitzgerald
■ Sam Martin
■ JJ Jansen
No surprises here.
