Want to know more about every single player on the Panthers 90-man roster but don’t like full paragraphs? We’ve got you covered.
- #1 Cam Newton didn’t throw for two weeks during training camp, but looks to be making progress and on track to start in Week 1 against San Francisco; he did, however, lead the wave at Fan Fest and dance during stretching.
- #2 Fred Ross looked fast during the first week of camp before missing some practice with an undisclosed injury and while the speedy receiver made some plays, there are too many wideouts for Ross to make the team.
- #3 Derek Anderson is the same quarterback he has always been, and while he didn’t look particularly accurate in training camp, he was able to get the job done in short work during the preseason game against the Texans.
- #4 Garrett Gilbert may make the practice squad as an eventual Derek Anderson replacement, but didn’t flash enough in camp to jump Joe Webb for the third backup position.
- #5 Michael Palardy is surprisingly still involved in a battle to be the punter for the Panthers, and the left-footed punter has had some bangers during practice; he needs to hit every ball perfectly the next three weeks to overtake Andy Lee.
- #7 Harrison Butker has unfortunately not been accurate enough during practice to overtake Graham Gano; no matter how many kicks Butker makes in the preseason, it appears the kicker battle is over.
- #8 Andy Lee showed some rust in his first game back last week and needs to step up his game to ultimately win the punters job in Carolina; personally, I think he’s got it locked up and is a field position weapon.
- #9 Graham Gano was making field goals from 60+ easily on the last day of camp and has outperformed rookie Harrison Butker, much to the chagrin of Panthers Twitter.
- #10 Curtis Samuel hasn’t practiced since the opening night of training camp, and while he continues to say that his hamstring is just sore, the lack of reps is eventually going to cost him; he must continue to take “mental reps” and get back to practice as soon as possible.
- #11 Brenton Bersin is battling with Kaelin Clay for the sixth wide receiver roster spot and needs to come back from his thigh bruise quickly to continue showing the coaches his consistency at route running and special teams play.
- #13 Kelvin Benjamin has done everything asked of him during training camp, making catches and continuing to use his body as a weapon, which he showed with his two catches in Week 1 of the preseason, the first of which had him throwing defenders to the ground for first down YAC and the second a leaping touchdown where he used every inch of his height.
- #14 Joe Webb has been alternating between special teams and quarterback drills throughout training camp, don’t expect to see too much of him at wideout this season; his special teams prowess is well-documented.
- #15 Keyarris Garrett looks the part, but hasn’t done enough to stand out in this group of wide receivers.
- #16 Austin Duke was the fan favorite heading to Spartanburg after impressing during OTAs and minicamps, but his playmaking ability has come down a notch and he had two poor plays during the preseason game against the Texans; he’s now practicing with the practice squad team and he’ll have to work hard to make the practice squad at this point.
- #17 Devin Funchess has been excellent at camp this year just as he was in 2016; let’s hope he can translate that camp productivity to the regular season.
- #18 Damiere Byrd went from fringe special teamer to fan favorite with his two-score performance against the Texans and seems to be a lock to make the roster at this point.
- #19 Russell Shepard has garnered a lot of attention for his strong hands and route running, but his special teams play might be his biggest contribution to the team; he’ll also be a nice option on third-and-mediums.
- #20 Kurt Coleman is a beast.
- #21 Teddy Williams makes a lot of his impact on special teams and seems to be the first backup outside corner option behind James Bradberry and Daryl Worley; his coverage must improve or he will be a weak link.
- #22 Christian McCaffrey is going to be special.
- #23 LJ McCray is a physical safety who must use his physicality to make big plays through the preseason to pass Dezmen Southward on the depth chart.
- #24 James Bradberry looked like he is ready to take the leap to elite cornerback this season.
- #25 Damian Parms needs to improve his spatial awareness to grab a roster spot, but has been doing some special teams work recently that improves his standing.
- #26 Daryl Worley has played extremely well, and while a lot of accolades have gone to Bradberry, “Bruce Wayne” is going to be excellent on the outside as well.
- #27 Mike Adams is a veteran safety who is going to be a real help when he steps into the box on run defense; his coverage could use some work but he is a solid addition to the safety group.
- #28 Jonathan Stewart once played a Coldplay song in the players’ lounge during the lunch period and it was beautiful.
- #31 Zack Sanchez started last season on the practice squad and looks to be heading that way again this year, his coverage leaves a lot to be desired.
- #32 Cole Luke is an undrafted free agent cornerback that has played well on the inside and could be a promising backup to Captain Munnerlyn; the Panthers have flirted with giving him some time on the outside.
- #33 Devonte Johnson was recently signed to provide cornerback depth but hasn’t practiced in almost a week with an undisclosed injury.
- #34 Cameron Artis-Payne is teetering on the brink of making the roster, but has run well in camp and in the first preseason game against the Texans; a strong showing will go a long way towards making the team.
- #35 Corn Elder hasn’t practiced, and I still think he may start the year on IR/Designated To Return.
- #36 Darrel Young is going to make the roster with a big caveat: IF THE PANTHERS KEEP A FULLBACK ON THE ROSTER AT ALL!
- #37 Dezmen Southward has been playing safety with the second team since the first preseason game; he is better at coverage than at run defense and will need to continue to play well to beat out LJ McCray.
- #38 Jalen “Scoot” Simmons has run well in practice, but hasn’t shown enough to make the team.
- #39 Jeff Richards has looked poor in coverage and even with the lack of corner depth, Richards doesn’t have the talent to make the team.
- #40 Alex Armah is extremely raw and is still learning how to use his body at fullback; he’ll be a good fit on the practice squad.
- #41 Captain Munnerlyn was called by Cam Newton “the smallest human being he’s ever seen”.
- #42 Colin Jones told me that his goal is to be the best special teams player he can be, and that is why he continually makes the roster; his special teams play is where his value lies.
- #43 Fozzy Whittaker is battling with Cameron Artis-Payne to be the third running back, if he can continue to provide depth on the kickoff return team that will add to his value.
- #44 JJ Jansen doesn’t know that I call him “Big Fish” because he’s a long snapper.
- #46 Eric Wallace hasn’t made enough plays to make the team at tight end.
- #50 Ben Boulware is a true fan favorite, but he hasn’t shown enough to crack perhaps the best linebacking group in the NFL.
- #52 Jared Norris is a hard hitter who has been working on his coverage skills. He’s a second year player who could eventually work into a larger role.
- #53 Ben Jacobs is a special teams ace who missed most of last year with an injury but between he, Norris, and David Mayo make up a second unit of linebackers who are all ready to step in and make plays should the need arise.
- #54 Shaq Thompson lost twelve pounds during the offseason in order to be more adept at covering tight ends and running backs; he’s ready to step up and be a leader on the defense.
- #55 David Mayo is not just an extremely competent backup at middle linebacker; he would be a starter on most clubs.
- #56 Zeek Bigger has had some flashes of excellence in camp, but like Ben Boulware, has a tough road to hoe trying to break into the best linebacking group in the NFL.
- #57 Jeremy Cash is a hybrid linebacker/safety who beefed up this offseason to try and grab some more playing time, and while he needs to improve his coverage, he has a chance to make some plays this season.
- #58 Thomas Davis is 34 years old and has torn his ACL three times in his career, but has looked as young and strong as ever; it will be interesting to see how much time he gives up to Shaq Thompson after defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said they would be limiting Davis’ reps this season.
- #59 Luke Kuechly is probably the best middle linebacker in the league, and is coming off missing nine games over the last two seasons due to concussions, he has recently begun wearing a “Q-Collar”, a device designed to help prevent concussions; if he can stay healthy for sixteen games, the Panthers defense will be top tier once again.
- #60 Daryl Williams has been playing well enough to keep the starting right guard spot, it will be interesting to see how he plays through the rest of the season with rookie Taylor Moton breathing down his neck.
- #61 David Yankey is adding guard depth at the moment, an injury to anyone ahead of him might thrust him towards a roster spot.
- #62 Gabriel Mass is getting a lot of playing time with Vernon Butler, Kyle Love, and Toby Johnson on the shelf; if he or Eric Crume can flash the next three weeks, they may be able to take a roster spot from Kyle Love.
- #63 Toby Johnson has not practiced at all during training camp and needs to get back on the field to try and make the team.
- #64 Bryan Cox may be heading for the practice squad, as the defensive end room is quite full at this point.
- #64 (also) Brian Folkerts was just signed this weekend to provide offensive line depth.
- #65 Amini Silatolu made the move from guard to tackle before camp started and has settled in as the primary backup for both positions on the left side of the line; while he didn’t play particularly well against the Texans, he is still trying to find his way at tackle.
- #66 Gino Gradkowski started last season as the backup center and has been supplanted there by Tyler Larsen; the recent signing of Brian Folkerts may mean the end of the road for Gradkowski.
- #67 Ryan Kalil introduced the world to P.I.G. and it will never be the same; he’s also recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and is being worked back in slowly.
- #68 Andrew Norwell is a beast and one of the best guards in the league; he just hired Drew Rosenhaus and is in a contract year so expect him to be playing with a chip on his shouder.
- #69 Tyler Larsen was pulled out of nowhere to start for the final five games of the 2016 season and performed with such gusto he’s wrested the backup job from Gino Gradkowski; Larsen says he feels comfortable at guard as well.
- #70 Trai Turner is also a beast and is also one of the best guards in a league; he hired Drew Rosenhaus before his contract year last year and played with a chip on this shoulder, enabling him to sign a 45 million dollar extension.
- #71 Dan France has had trouble staying on the field and his most memorable training camp moment was getting in a scrap with Dezmen Southward.
- #72 Eric Crume was on the field a ton against the Texans and has an opportunity to show the team why he is deserving of a roster spot while Vernon Butler and Kyle Love are out.
- #72 Taylor Moton has looked great in both practice and his first preseason action and appears to be the tackle of the future for the Panthers.
- #73 Connor Wujciak was signed this past weekend and has practiced minimally with the team; he’s extremely raw, but the Panthers are so thin at defensive tackle he may have a shot.
- #74 Daeshon Hall has had erratic play thus far in camp and in his first preseason game; he is going to be a nice piece if he can continue learning from the veterans who will be taking most of the snaps ahead of him this season.
- #75 Matt Kalil is perhaps the most important player on the entire team, if Kalil can stay healthy and keep quarterback Cam Newton upright throughout the entire season, it will make this offense a lot more potent; thus far, Kalil has looked good and healthy in camp, he says he’s playing with no pain for the first time in a long time.
- #76 Blaine Causell has been battling an injury the past week, he won’t stay on the roster much longer if he can’t play soon.
- #76 Arthur Miley was just signed for defensive line depth.
- #77 Zach Moore is going to make the practice squad somewhere, he looks the part of a defensive end.
- #79 Chris Scott is a competent backup offensive line, probably the last one to make the roster and the first one to be cut if the Panthers sign another lineman for depth.
- #80 Scott Simonson could have challenged Chris Manhertz for the TE3 position, but has battled a hamstring injury throughout camp; unfortunately, he’s no longer practice squad eligible.
- #81 Mose Frazier has had both spectacular touchdowns and horrific drops throughout camp.
- #82 Chris Manhertz has played well, despite some drops, and is going to be the third tight end.
- #83 Kaelin Clay is battling Brenton Bersin for the sixth wide receiver position if the Panthers decide to keep six wideouts; Clay is quick, has good hands and can make plays in the return game, look for him to make the practice squad if he doesn’t make the roster.
- #84 Ed Dickson is who he is.
- #85 Bryce Williams is an ECU grad who was signed to fill out the TE ranks for the preseason and he has looked competent at camp.
- #87 Trevor Graham is extremely fast and has been given a few chances to return punts and kicks; if he can catch a long ball or take a kick back for a score, he will move up the wide receiver ranks, as of right now he won’t make the team.
- #88 Greg Olsen knows most of the words to the Nas song “One Mic”.
- #90 Julius Peppers was once called by Cam Newton “the biggest human being he’s ever seen.”
- #92 Vernon Butler injured his knee in the first preseason game and the team is hopeful he can return for Week 1 against San Francisco.
- #93 Kyle Love has only practiced once this preseason; he’ll need to get on the field to protect his roster spot, especially with Butler on the shelf for an extended period.
- #94 Larry Webster has not played poorly, but there are just too many ultratalented defensive ends ahead of him.
- #95 Charles Johnson had microdiscectomy this offseason but looks to be back to full strength.
- #96 Wes Horton is extremely underrated, on most other teams he would be a key cog to their defense, but in this one he doesn’t even get the starting defensive end spot.
- #97 Mario Addison bulked up this offseason and is going to be a menace to opposing left tackles all season; his battles with Matt Kalil have been one of the most interesting parts of camp.
- #98 Star Lotulelei demands a double team on every play; against the Texans he pushed his blocker so far in the backfield on the first run he blew up the play before it even started.
- #99 Kawann Short has looked like a beast in practice; between Short, Star, Peppers, Johnson, Addison, and Horton, the defensive line is probably the scariest part of an extremely scary defense.
Josh Klein is Editor-In-Chief of The Riot Report. His favorite Panther of all time is Chad Cota and he once AIM chatted with Kevin Greene. Follow Josh on Twitter @joshkleinrules.