PANTHERS HOLD FIRST POST-CUTS PRACTICE WITH INITIAL 53

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.