OFFICIAL 2024 PRESEASON GAME 2 THREAD: PANTHERS VS JETS

I don't think the 1's  will play at all next week ( I have nothing to base this on lol other than we can't afford injuries , period )  We might see some 2's .

No one can afford injuries , especially to a starter,  but we're  in  a team building mode and we're not deep at all.  ( except at QB  when Andy Dalton and he's has a injury  )

Are we deep at WR
Are we deep at  RB
It appears edge rushers, we aren't deep,  nor defensive backs.

Do we have a stellar corp of linebackers .  In Panther lore, we've always been very above average at linebacker.

Some good points here, OP...

But here's the thing.  Are we deep at QB.?  Yes, FOR NOW.  Are we deep at RB.? Well, we currently have five (5) -- Hubbard. Sanders, Blackshear, Boone, and Johnson. And, of course, there is Jonathon Brooks who is "active" but on the NFI list. So six total RBs and there is an argument for keeping each of them.  Are we deep at WR.? Well, yes, FOR NOW. Currently have ten (10) on the roster. How about Edge guys or DBs.?? Well, OLBs, we have seven (7), but two of them are on the PUP.   How about DBs,? We have eight (8) Safeties and eight (8) CBs, so sixteen (16) total. And of course, our ILBs look very strong.

Sooo...The answer is YES, we are "deep" at all of these positions (sort of..).  FOR NOW.  The 'cheese gets binding' here in about nine days. Or, as the Brits would say, It becomes a "sticky wicket".  So, for the next week or so, we are indeed "deep" at all of these positions. But as we all know, when roster cut-down happens, on August 27 at 4:00 PM, all of that "deepness" disappears.

So, the question remains, will our #1s and #2s play in the third (and last..) pre-season game.?? As OP noted and I've mentioned several times, injuries are an unknown quantity. Yes, we need to avoid them if at all possible. BUT, as we also know, injuries are a part of this game. We can't back away from every on-field endeavor just because there is some risk. These guys (the #1s and #2s) need some contact time as well. They need to get into a smooth, reliable rhythm. I will contend that they NEED some full-contact snaps with opponents across from them ... just like the #3s and #4s do.

It's not a discussion about whether or not we 'need' to protect our guys from injury. Of course, that would be ideal. It IS a discussion about whether or not we can put a pro-quality team on the field to represent the Panthers come week 1. I will contend that all of these guys, as 'good' as they might be, need some time in the trenches.

Think about it like this. In about a week or so we will set our 53 roster.  If you allow for two QBs on the roster and three ST guys, LS, P, and K, that leaves exactly 48 slots available. Try dividing that up between Offense and Defense and maybe some 'specialist' dual role guys. It's going to be tough. It always is.  BUT, that has absolutely nothing to do with the reality of getting our TEAM ready to play on Week 1. These guys need more than just a passing familiarity with the playbook. They need to be SHARP, both mentally and physically. And that only occurs with repetition....