PANTHERS HOLD FIRST POST-CUTS PRACTICE WITH INITIAL 53

Practice squad will be announced today.

https://www.panthers.com/news/notebook-p...r-cutdowns

CHARLOTTE — The smallest group that the Carolina Panthers will practice with all year took the field on Tuesday. Following the league-mandated roster cutdowns, and a day ahead of signing a practice squad, the club practiced with their initial 53-man roster, joined by a handful of injury designated players as spectators. Before practice, the Panthers said goodbye to 37 guys, a process that is part of the business, but one that is never easy.

"I don't think there's really anything you could do to get used to it, make it any less impactful," quarterback Bryce Young admitted Tuesday afternoon. "It's a tough, tough business. I pray for everyone who, you know, a lot of people's futures are up in the air. There's a lot of uncertainty with people and that's just, that's just a tough—people have families, people have wives, kids, loved ones who depend on them and, again, it's a tough part of the business."

Following the cuts though, the Panthers quickly got back to football, taking the field for what was scheduled to be a shorter practice but ended up going long. The Panthers have a week-and-a-half until they open their season versus the New Orleans Saints, but Young said this week was essentially a "bonus week,"

All of those on the initial roster were present and accounted for, although defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy (ankle) and tight end Tommy Tremble were held out of drills.

— One new face that joined the Panthers on Tuesday was corner Mike Jackson. The veteran defensive back was acquired via trade with the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday. Due to the quick turnaround and no practice, Jackson did not play on Saturday in the final preseason game at Buffalo. As such, Tuesday was his first action with his new team. The former fifth-round pick has started 21 career games (including all 17 in 2022 for the Seahawks) and has an interception and two fumble recoveries. 

The roster is still destined to both change with waiver claims, and grow with the practice squad (due to be initially set on Wednesday).

As such, these practices could look different yet again before the week is out. Still, with the regular season kicking off for Carolina on Sept. 8, each new change now has a ripple affect, touching the game plan as well. It means coaches have their work cut out for them to get each possible player ready, but the same could be said for Young.

While the quarterback points out he has nothing to do with any waiver claims—"that's above my pay grade," he joked—he could be asked to help bring along pass-catchers, something Dave Canales left the door open to on Monday.

"From my perspective, if it's, again, if it's a position that I'm around, it's my job as well to make sure that I'm having conversations, we're going over things, having talks. If it means going over extra things and watching film or talking through plays or the game plan. It's my job as well, just as much to make sure that, for the team's sake, we are as acclimated as can be, we're on the same page.

"I'll do whatever it takes to get us to the best position we can, come next week."

— The human element of cutdown day is saying goodbye, at least for now, to those who had become friends. One such face was receiver Terrace Marshall Jr.. Heading into his fourth season, TMJ was left off the initial 53-man roster, a cut that Young admitted, "That's my guy. That one hurt."

The former second-round pick has been with the club for the past three seasons. He will be eligible for the practice squad if he clears waivers. If he does end up in a new city though, Young has a message to send along with the signing.

"The business of it, you never know where people end up, what's going on," he said. "But, that's someone I believe in tremendously. Someone that will be in addition to any room, who I know—again, you never know what's going on—but have the utmost confidence to have success in the future."

— There are always a few moments each practice, when corner Jaycee Horn likes to remind everyone he could probably play any position on the field he wanted to, and Tuesday was no exception. Horn spent part of the stretch period catching balls one handed, just to test his different angles. Then, when the defensive backs were practicing run stop, Horn was more than happy to act as the ball carrier, juking his teammates in the open field, and playing loosey goosey with the ball while never risking a fumble, just to get around a would-be tackle.

Joe Person's thoughts on the 53

A day after Canales called wide receiver the team’s strongest position group coming out of training camp, the Panthers kept seven wideouts. The most notable cut was a holdover from the Frank Reich/Scott Fitterer regime — Terrace Marshall, a second-round pick from 2021.

Morgan tried unsuccessfully to trade Marshall, who had a good performance during the Jets’ joint practice and scored a touchdown in the final preseason game at Buffalo. But Canales ominously said last week the Panthers would consider Marshall’s entire, hit-or-miss body of work, which was largely a miss. Still, it would surprise no one if Marshall ends up in Washington (where Fitterer is in the front office) or Buffalo (where Joe Brady, who was with Marshall at LSU and Carolina, is the offensive coordinator).

While moving on from Marshall, the Panthers went with familiarity in David Moore. The veteran was with Canales at his two previous stints, is considered a leader in the locker room and on special teams. The Panthers also kept undrafted free agent Jalen Coker, the Holy Cross all-time receiving leader who they didn’t want to risk losing on waivers.

Incoming: An edge rusher and more
The initial roster only includes four outside linebackers on the active, plus two who remained on the physically unable to perform list — D.J. Wonnum and Amare Barno. Both will miss at least four games, although Canales seemed to indicate this week Barno will be out longer. So unless the Panthers are prepared to roll into New Orleans with only DJ Johnson, K’Lavon Chaisson and Eku Leota as complements to Jadeveon Clowney, expect Morgan to claim, sign or trade for another edge rusher.

Other groups where the Panthers could add: cornerback (with Dane Jackson missing a minimum of four games), inside linebacker and tight end (depending on Ian Thomas’ status for Week 1).

Developmental guys for a team in transition
Coker was one of several young players the Panthers kept for what figures to be the first year in a rebuilding process. With Canales and Morgan declining to set expectations for this season — at least publicly — it’s reasonable to suggest both would be open to the long play with a few guys who showed promise this summer.

That group includes Coker, undrafted center Andrew Raym, undrafted safety Demani Richardson, second-year guard Chandler Zavala and rookie defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy, a sixth-round pick who has been sidelined with a high ankle sprain.

A team trying to contend immediately might have kept 32-year-old tight end Jordan Matthews after a strong preseason (and Matthews could still return). But in hanging on to a player like Raym, the Panthers get a year to see if the former Oklahoma lineman could be the replacement for Austin Corbett, who is in the final year of his contract.

Positions that seem a little heavy
The Panthers had seven wideouts on their initial roster last year, then moved Derek Wright to their practice squad two days later. They could try to stash Coker on the practice squad this year after teams set their roster. It’s also unclear what Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s Week 1 status will be: The receiver/return specialist was set to undergo more testing on his injured foot Monday.

Ejiro Evero currently has seven defensive linemen on the depth chart, including Crumedy and Jayden Peevy. This group almost certainly will be pared down to make room for other spots on defense like those mentioned above.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5726891...er-roster/

Joe Person's thoughts on the 53

A day after Canales called wide receiver the team’s strongest position group coming out of training camp, the Panthers kept seven wideouts. The most notable cut was a holdover from the Frank Reich/Scott Fitterer regime — Terrace Marshall, a second-round pick from 2021.

Morgan tried unsuccessfully to trade Marshall, who had a good performance during the Jets’ joint practice and scored a touchdown in the final preseason game at Buffalo. But Canales ominously said last week the Panthers would consider Marshall’s entire, hit-or-miss body of work, which was largely a miss. Still, it would surprise no one if Marshall ends up in Washington (where Fitterer is in the front office) or Buffalo (where Joe Brady, who was with Marshall at LSU and Carolina, is the offensive coordinator).

While moving on from Marshall, the Panthers went with familiarity in David Moore. The veteran was with Canales at his two previous stints, is considered a leader in the locker room and on special teams. The Panthers also kept undrafted free agent Jalen Coker, the Holy Cross all-time receiving leader who they didn’t want to risk losing on waivers.

Incoming: An edge rusher and more
The initial roster only includes four outside linebackers on the active, plus two who remained on the physically unable to perform list — D.J. Wonnum and Amare Barno. Both will miss at least four games, although Canales seemed to indicate this week Barno will be out longer. So unless the Panthers are prepared to roll into New Orleans with only DJ Johnson, K’Lavon Chaisson and Eku Leota as complements to Jadeveon Clowney, expect Morgan to claim, sign or trade for another edge rusher.

Other groups where the Panthers could add: cornerback (with Dane Jackson missing a minimum of four games), inside linebacker and tight end (depending on Ian Thomas’ status for Week 1).

Developmental guys for a team in transition
Coker was one of several young players the Panthers kept for what figures to be the first year in a rebuilding process. With Canales and Morgan declining to set expectations for this season — at least publicly — it’s reasonable to suggest both would be open to the long play with a few guys who showed promise this summer.

That group includes Coker, undrafted center Andrew Raym, undrafted safety Demani Richardson, second-year guard Chandler Zavala and rookie defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy, a sixth-round pick who has been sidelined with a high ankle sprain.

A team trying to contend immediately might have kept 32-year-old tight end Jordan Matthews after a strong preseason (and Matthews could still return). But in hanging on to a player like Raym, the Panthers get a year to see if the former Oklahoma lineman could be the replacement for Austin Corbett, who is in the final year of his contract.

Positions that seem a little heavy
The Panthers had seven wideouts on their initial roster last year, then moved Derek Wright to their practice squad two days later. They could try to stash Coker on the practice squad this year after teams set their roster. It’s also unclear what Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s Week 1 status will be: The receiver/return specialist was set to undergo more testing on his injured foot Monday.

Ejiro Evero currently has seven defensive linemen on the depth chart, including Crumedy and Jayden Peevy. This group almost certainly will be pared down to make room for other spots on defense like those mentioned above.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5726891...er-roster/

I'm not particularly upset to see Marshall gone.  I wish him the very best where ever he ends up. 

The one that I am glad to see they kept was WR Jalen Coker.  Smitty drooled all over him prior to the draft and said he was the "best route runner in his class" and I was curious as to where he would end up.  Even though he went undrafted, Coker looked good in the preseason, and I'm excited to see if he can do the same during the regular season.

Looks like Smitty now has 2 guys to mentor in the off season.