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Recapping a productive Panthers minicamp

NFL: Carolina Panthers Minicamp

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The Panthers break from minicamp feeling good about where they are.

The Carolina Panthers wrapped up their three day mandatory minicamp on Thursday and will go their separate ways until they reconvene for training camp in mid July. We’ve gotten lots of reports about the goings on, and a lot of them are good. It is camp after all. Everyone is great in camp.

Even with that caveat in mind, the quotes and energy coming out of camp are hard not to be excited about. Head coach Dave Canales spoke glowingly about the energy the team had over the three day camp, and it sounds like both the offense and defense each won a day. A few other interesting tidbits:

Bryce Young is growing as a leader​


Young has always come across as soft spoken in press conferences and in interviews. In the first year plus of his career, he seemed quiet and timid on the field. That’s been changing as he’s emerged as a vocal leader and trash talker. He apparently jawed with Jaycee Horn all throughout camp and was also spotted having chats with wide receivers about how he wanted them to do certain things. Young needs to play confidently to be at his best, and it looks like he has his swagger back.

The rookies look good​


Dave Canales has spoken extremely highly about the professionalism of the rookie class throughout the offseason program thus far. We still have to see how they perform on the field, but high character guys with good habits are always a better bet to reach their potential. Early returns suggest the Panthers acquired a bunch of those guys.

The old (ish) receiver looks good too​


The Panthers signed Hunter Renfrow out of retirement, and he’s reportedly looked like his old self throughout camp. The Panthers have a lot of youth throughout their wide receiver room, and Renfrow is sounding more and more like a guy that can latch on as a veteran depth piece.

Tetairoa McMillan didn’t get to see the field much​


The first round wide receiver got kicked in the leg during the first minicamp practice on Tuesday and was held out of the last two games due to swelling around the injury. While it’d be nice to get reports on how dominant the rookie was at camp, he at least avoided anything major.

Ghosts of Panthers past are out to see what’s brewing​


The Panthers hosted a bunch of former players over the course of minicamp. You love seeing the old guard show their support and stay attached to the team. Josh Norman, Muhsin Muhammad, Jon Beason, Thomas Davis, Jerricho Cotchery, Captain Munnerlyn, Kawann Short, Kurt Coleman, Dwan Edwards, Tre Boston, Colin Cole, Charles Johnson, Jonathan Stewart, and Mike Tolbert all reportedly showed up at different points to check in. That’s an expansive list of players from the good ol’ days. Perhaps we’re at the start of the next good days.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...ping-a-productive-carolina-panthers-mini-camp
 
Reacts Results: Fans want upgrades in the secondary

Syndication: The Indianapolis Star

Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Free agency help is available and Panthers fans want their team to take advantage

Last week we asked Panthers fans what, if anything, they’d like to see the Carolina Panthers do to upgrade their shallow secondary. There was one clear favorite amongst the three bigger name options available via either free agency or trade.



77% of Panthers fans would rather the team pursue an upgrade via signing a veteran free agent over trading for an aging, former star. Former Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon, PFF’s 23rd best coverage safety in 2024, is the clear choice for most fans. The Panthers visited with Blackmon in March, but did not sign him then and he remains unsigned at this time.

Justin Simmons, who has familiarity with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero from their shared time with the Denver Broncos, seems a distant second on most fans’ wishlists for this offseason.

Rumors are heating up around the league about the Panthers doing something to add to this need in the six weeks between now and the start of training camp, but there is little noise from within the Panthers organization on the subject. These rumors, for now, are more people seeing a need and drawing their own hopes and conclusions than they are indications of an imminent signing.

Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...s-results-fans-want-upgrades-in-the-secondary
 
Panthers Reacts Survey: Which Panthers star will shine brightest in 2025?

Carolina Panthers v Atlanta Falcons

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

From long shots to old favorites, let's talk big name contributions

With weeks left to go until training camp, there is very little substantive prognosticating left to do about the rookies and free agent additions that have swelled the Carolina Panthers talent pool this year. We simply won't learn much more about how they will all work together until they put pads on in training camp.

So let's chew the fat around some slightly more known quantities: This week we're asking which Panthers star will take the biggest step forward this season. And yes, before you ask, we are going to use the term 'star' quite generously.

Our first few of candidates are obvious: Bryce Young, Chuba Hubbard, and Jaycee Horn are all coming off of good seasons and have had upgrades around them (Terairoa McMillan, Rico Dowdle, the entire defensive front seven) that should take some of the pressure off of their performances. That theoretically leaves room for each played to up their game in 2025.

Derrick Brown's first step forward will simply be stepping onto the field. Not only will he be healthy, however, he will alsp be surrounded by more talent than he has played with in years. Bobby Brown III, Tershawn Wharton, D.J. Wonnum, and Patrick Jones are all new teammates for Brown and present an exciting opportunity for him to hit the ground running.

Xavier Legette, on the other hand, is both the furthest player on this list from bring a star and has the most room for improvement. The 2024 first round pick's potential is exciting and could be realized this season if his offseason work on catching the football pays off. The Panthers finally have a talented corps of receivers, so Legette's playing time will be earned this year. The more he sees the field, the more excited I will be for his future.

Go ahead and jump on down to the comments section after you vote so we can argue about this. This subject has to last us until training camp.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Carolina Panthers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...rown-jaycee-horn-xavier-legette-chuba-hubbard
 
Brian Answers: Juneteenth Edition!

NFL: Carolina Panthers Minicamp

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

We bring you another part two of our weekly fan mailbag, where we answer all your burning questions!

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! Things have been quiet for the Panthers after OTA’s, aside from a big social media push. But the ride doesn’t stop in the off-season, and I am here to entertain and drive up discussion as the summer wanes on as we anxiously await the preseason. I answered your questions this week, but if you had one you’d like to see answered, tune into “Brian Asks” early next week, and comment with your questions. Let’s dive right in!

Bruce Guild: I have been pleasantly surprised by Mr Tepper’s transition from highly involved and very public to his extended period of being in the background and out of the media. Seems to only show up in a supportive role. Michelle was not in the front row on draft day like we have seen in the past.

It feels like this is a new direction for the Tepper’s. With that how would you rate him now against the other owners in the league if this continues?

He has the cash and is willing to use it, he seems to have surrounded himself with people he trusts and is allowing them to do their jobs and the team seems to be pulled out of all the negative vibe that surrounded it for years. Am I imagining it? Is It smoke and mirrors or do we have what could be an owner that has learned from his mistakes and is going in the right direction?


I’m not going to try and rank David Tepper against other owners just yet, but I will be happy to discuss Tepper’s evolution as an owner. I do think Tepper’s original plan when he bought the team was to let the football minds do the football things, with him as a backseat (though very present) rider. I never had a problem with Tepper being involved in the draft process, I never had a problem with him having weekly meetings and even pitching ideas. I’d liken it to buying a vehicle that someone else is driving for you; you’d still like to know what’s going on under the hood and you’d like to know its being driven capably. After all, YOU bought it!

I think while his goals were in the right place, he did step in when he felt the previous coaches (Rhule, Reich) were no longer doing their jobs effectively. I think him being so involved in the drafting of Bryce Young made sense in a vacuum, but as soon as Bryce struggled so much in his rookie season, the blame quickly shifted to him while the coaching staff on offense struggled to gel. Remember, the Panthers were being lauded as making a heck of a hiring cycle out of that 2023 group, accumulating a group of all star coaches. When it didn’t work out, it was Tepper’s fault. And rightfully so!

I think what the Panthers have now was what Tepper actually envisioned for the team; a GM he trusts with a fundamental understanding of the Panthers and their history, and a young head coach with ideas and a vision for a young franchise QB to ultimately reset the franchise. While your thoughts of Bryce Young as a franchise QB or not may vary, the bottom line is I do think this setup was what Tepper wanted; to be involved and present during the big moments (the Draft, the big free agency signings, the coaching hirings) while letting the coaches and management handle the day to day operations. We’ll see if it lasts, but so far, the Panthers moves and methodology under Dave Canales and Dan Morgan has been consistent and uniform, where the random moves out of left field that we saw in the previous two regimes haven’t been as prevalent. So to sum up my answer, no, I don’t believe what you’re seeing is smoke and mirrors.

Robholland211: In recent years it was almost a guarantee that all of our draft picks would make the roster due to poor depth. It seems we’ve solved the depth problem for the most part (with a few positions excluded *cough safety and inside linebacker cough*) which leads me to wonder if there are any of our draft picks from this draft that may not make the cut?

I think all of the Panthers draft picks should make the cut. I think there’s an outside possibility that Jimmy Horn Jr doesn’t make it due to how crowded the back end of the wide receiver depth chart is, but he does bring a different skillset and value as a returner. The coaching staff also seems to be really high on him. As far as other later round selections, TE Mitchell Evans slots in nicely to compliment the current room, and I think Cam Jackson on the DL brings that element of run stopping ability that this staff was so focused on fixing this off-season. So I think they all make the cut.

@WTMealey: 2 min left to win a game-lets make it a playoff game A FG wins it

B- Oline B+ WR and C+ RBs A+ kicker

You get Delhomme in his prime or Cam in his prime

Ball on the 15yd line

Pick your QB and tell us why


Jake Delhomme was always a comeback kid, but Cam Newton would definitely be my preferred guy. He could make the plays with his legs, and prime Cam Newton could deliver strikes deep down the field among the best in the league. Give me 2015 Cam every time in a game winning situation, especially if a field goal wins it. Graham Gano rarely missed in those situations.

Bull123: Guys that I’m looking at to step up are our 2nd yr rookies

XL, Wallace, Sanders as starters, these guys need to be really good

wade and chumley to make positive contributions

Can we expect them to be players for us?


I think Xavier Legette and Ja’Tavion Sanders both take a step forward simply because its year two in Dave Canales’s offense, and the team added Tetairoa McMillan which should take away the opponent’s best pass defender in many situations. Trevin Wallace should theoretically be the starting ILB opposite Josey Jewell, but he’ll definitely need to take a big step forward into being a more well rounded defender in 2025. However, I think you can expect all 3 to at least take a marked step forward this season.

Chau Smith-Wade at CB is currently slated as CB3, and while he had his moments as a rookie he’s far from someone I would call a sleeper at the position. I do expect the Panthers to add someone to compete at that role. Jaden Crumedy is most likely a practice squad candidate just based on the sheer amount of attention the Panthers spent on the defensive line during the offseason, but I would think if he lands there he stands to be elevated to the active roster multiple times during the regular season.

dayneB12: I’ve seen plenty of reports about possible Panthers interest in Justin Simmons. What are you thoughts on the idea of bringing in Simmons?

I think Simmons is waiting on the best possible landing spot with the most reasonable money for his services. Teams like the Eagles, 49ers, and Raiders have also been mentioned as landing spots. I think the Panthers make a ton of sense, since Simmons has the familiarity with DC Ejiro Evero from their time in Denver. I also think at 31 Simmons wouldn’t necessarily have to play 95% of the teams snaps on defense, as there’s a clear plan to use rookie 4th round pick Lathan Ransom as part of the rotation sooner or later. It will really just depend on the money, but Simmons probably isn’t in a rush to sign somewhere like Carolina since he shouldn’t need a ton of prep work in Evero’s scheme due to his familiarity.

schrodingersblackcat: in response to the Panthers “Leave Your Mark” videos posted on social media this week

But your comment spurred a question. How would you personally go about changing the team’s presentation/brand? Yeah, we could get into another CSR uniform debate, and I never mind it when that inevitably comes back around, even though it’s clear that the uniforms have been 100% perfect since 1995.

But more specifically I’m wondering if anyone has any ideas for changing up the team branding, media, the game day experience, fan engagement, new traditions, etc.?


I saw a lot of comments on social media about how the Panthers seemed to be phasing out “Keep Pounding” with this social media push. I don’t think that’s the case. I think the Panthers are trying to push this season as the start of a new era, and creating a new campaign is a great way to do it. The players have stated they are tired of losing, the coaches seem to be optimistic that this team can actually compete this season, so in my mind, creating a certain mindset and mission is absolutely the right way to go. I think modernizing some of their logos and chants in the stadium would give the Panthers the new feel they are trying to go for. I am definitely NOT saying to move on from “Keep Pounding”, but if you want to make this team feel like a major step forward and a change on the horizon, marketing the team in a fundamentally different way is definitely a path to differentiating this iteration from what the Panthers have been since 2020.

Good_Ol_Boy: Non-football question: What was your favorite amusement park you’ve ever been to? Are you a rollercoaster fan?

I haven’t been to one of the major amusement parks aside from Six Flags and Hershey Park (great spot in PA) since I was a kid, but my favorite back then was DisneyQuest. I was a gamer through and through as a kid, so all of that technology and VR stuff was really cool and totally different from the other stuff you would get as Disney. I was a big rollercoaster fan, and still am to this day. Just don’t get to go on them as much!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...id-tepper-dan-morgan-dave-canales-bryce-young
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 80 Days To Go

NFL: Carolina Panthers Minicamp

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

In this series, we’ll be counting down until opening kickoff by running through the Panthers roster by jersey number. Today’s piece looks at the current and historical players to have ever donned No. 80 for the Carolina Panthers.

Current Player: Jacolby George​


George (5’11”, 175 lbs) was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft. He was a four star recruit coming out of high school and attended Miami (FL) for all four of his college seasons. 2023 was George’s breakout season for the Hurricanes, as he hauled in 57 catches for 864 yards and eight touchdowns, earning him third team All-ACC status. Last season, his explosive plays took a bit of a dip as his YPC dropped, but his total catches and touchdowns were both about equal to his junior campaign. Still, that was enough to earn him All-ACC Honorable Mention.

George was clearly a top UDFA target for the Panthers, as they offered a contract with more guaranteed money than he would have received as a sixth round pick. The Panthers clearly believe he might be able to overcome his disappointing NFL Combine and make the same splash plays in the NFL as he did in college.

Notable Previous Players to wear number 80: Ian Thomas, Jeremy Shockey, Dwayne Jarrett, Dwight Stone​


The most recent player to wear number 80 for the Panthers was the much maligned Ian Thomas. The tight end was a very good blocker for the team but left a lot to be desired as a pass catcher. Add to that multiple coaching staffs insistence on him playing a bunch of snaps, and you’ve got a recipe for the meme Thomas has become here on CSR. Jeremy Shockey was perhaps the most productive number 80 in Panthers history. Despite only playing in Charlotte for one season, he added an approximate value of 4 according to Pro Football Reference. For comparison, Thomas added an AV of 8 across his seven seasons with the team. Dwayne Jarrett donned the 80 before Shockey and had an extremely disappointing four seasons with the team. The first player to wear the number for the Panthers was Dwight Stone back when the team had just been created. Stone spent a few seasons as a wide receiver with the team but barely saw the field except on coverage teams. He did get credited for a safety, though, against the St Louis Rams in 1997 when the Rams punter stepped out of bounds in the endzone.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...ge-2025-season-opener-countdown-80-days-to-go
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 79 Days To Go

NFL: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

There are 79 days until the first game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. That makes today Ikem Ekwonu day.

Ekwonu is going into his fourth year with the Panthers after a roller coaster first three seasons. He was drafted with the expectation of him being a franchise left tackle, and for the most part, he looked like he could reach those lofty expectations over the course of his rookie season. His second season did not go as well, and that made a lot of Panthers fans uneasy about his long term prospects. But the Panthers invested in help along the offensive line last season, and with a better supporting cast and new offensive system, Ekwonu went back to looking like he’ll at least be a solid starter at left tackle for the foreseeable future.

Ekwonu anchors the left side as one of the better run blocking tackles in the league. He played a large part in Chuba Hubbard having a breakout season last year. He has some cleaning up to do in the passing game and with penalties, but that can come in time with more experience and continually improving technique.

The born and raised Charlottean is locked in as the team’s starting left tackle again this season and will be counted on to protect Bryce Young and open things up for an ascending offense. He’s been trending in the right direction, and he has a chance to solidify himself as a franchise tackle going forward.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...on-opener-countdown-79-days-to-go-ikem-ekownu
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 78 Days To Go

NFL: Carolina Panthers OTA

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

There are 78 days until the first game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. Today’s piece looks at the history of the number 78 jersey, including current reserve/injured defensive tackle Popo Aumavae.

Aumavae was a 2024 undrafted free agent signing out of the University of Oregon. His injury history in college and the pros makes it highly unlikely that the once promising propsect is going to make a splash for the Panthers. The investment along the defensive line this season by Carolina gives Aumavae only the longest of shots at making the practice squad in 2026.

That seems a fitting story, however, for the number 78 in Charlotte. Aumavae is the 16th player to wear that number in franchise history and only four players, Blake Brockermeyer, Jeno James, Todd Fordham, and Nate Chandler have played for the team for more than one season.

  • Brockermeyer was the third ever draft pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 NFL Draft, He was taken 29th overall after the Panthers took Kerry Collins, 5th overall, and Tyrone Poole, 22nd overall. He started almost every game under his rookie contract with the Panthers before continuing his career with the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos.
  • James was the 182nd overall pick in the 2000 draft who parlayed a starting gig from the entire 2003 Super Bowl run season into a new contract with the Miami Dolphins. He was released by the Dolphins in 2007 with a knee injury, ending his NFL career.
  • Fordham was a 1998 undrafted free agent signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He managed a nine year career as a backup offensive tackle, spending his final three seasons, from 2004-2006, in the league with the Panthers. He started eight games in Charlotte.
  • The last player to wear number 78 for any length of time was Cat Scratch Reader’s favorite polarizing project: Nate Chandler. The defensive tackle/offensive guard was one of the stranger stories of the Ron Rivera era for the Carolina Panthers.
    Chandler was a 2012 undrafted free agent out of UCLA who recorded six tackles, one fumble recovery, and one pass defensed in ten games as a defensive tackle in 2012. He then converted to and started eight games as a right guard in 2013, before finishing his career with 11 starts at right tackle in 2014.
    He spent 2015 on injured reserve, signed with the Chicago Bears in June of 2016, and retired from the NFL six weeks later.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...n-opener-countdown-78-popo-aumavae-days-to-go
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 77 Days To Go

NFL: Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

There are 77 days left until the first game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. That means today’s countdown piece features veteran offensive lineman Yosh Nijman.

Nijman is entering the second year of a two year deal he signed with the Panthers in the 2024 offseason. Prior to that, he spent four years as a rotational lineman with the Green Bay Packers after signing on with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Nijman played in all but one game last season, starting three, but largely playing in a reserve and special teams role. That appears to be what he’s destined for again this season barring a string of injuries along the offensive line.

Prior to Nijman, the number 77 was worn by several notable Panthers. The most recent of those is Kyle Love, who sported the double sevens from 2016 to 2019, and I think most Panthers fans were cool with him.

From 2011 to 2014, 77 was on the jersey of Byron Bell, who was a popular scapegoat among Panthers fans during most of his time in Carolina. He quickly ascended from undrafted free agent to starter and, despite many struggles, seemed to only gain more trust from the Panthers’ front office and coaching staff along the way.

The most notable Panthers 77 wore the jersey from 2001 to 2007 and made three pro bowls during that time. Kris Jenkins is undoubtedly the best player to wear the number for the organization. He was a dominant and physically imposing force on the interior of the defensive line, and the lucky 7s only added to the intimidation factor.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...on-opener-countdown-77-days-to-go-yosh-nijman
 
Reacts Results: Bryce Young leads among hopeful fans for the 2025 season

NFL: Carolina Panthers Minicamp

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The optimism here may be a confluence of hope and reason

Bryce Young is the pin up which the Carolina Panthers and their fans are hanging all of their hopes for the 2025 season. Improvements in the draft and free agency to their defense will all be for naught if the third year quarterback comes out with another dud opener. Fortunately for Young, the Panthers, and those of us at home, that seems highly unlikely.

We asked which Panthers star player fans expected to take the biggest step forward this season and a resounding majority of y’all said Young. His remarkable journey last year where he went from warming benches to going toe to toe with the best quarterbacks in the league has inspired hope in this team.



Young passed the eye test in his return to play with flying colors and has since been popping up in deeper statistical analysis of the season with little but encouraging numbers. That, more than anything, is driving a cautions surge in optimism among fans.

Most of us have been in a “I’ll believe it when I see it” mentality since the middle days of Matt Rhule and not even Dave Canales’ famously infectious optimism was able to change that alone. But seeing a quarterback play well, seeing that backed up by numbers and a constant stream of confident comment from his teammates? Well, that’s something that’s hard to ignore.

And, since it’s June, why don’t we all jump down to the comments and start with wild predictions for Young’s 2025 stats. Screw being realistic, let’s really go for the moon with things like double digit touchdown predictions or two game winning streaks. Let us know your thoughts and your dreams down below.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...-leads-among-hopeful-fans-for-the-2025-season
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 74 Days to Go

NFL: 2023 Season Player Headshots

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

In this series, we’ll be counting down until opening kickoff by running through the Panthers roster by jersey number. Today’s piece looks at the current and historical players to have ever donned No. 74 for the Carolina Panthers.

Current Player: Sam Roberts​


Roberts (6’5”, 295) is a defensive tackle out of NW Missouri State. He was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. After a couple years with the Patriots where he saw very limited action, he was released in August of 2024 by the team. The next month, Roberts signed with the Chicago Bears to be on their practice squad. Just a couple weeks later, though, the Bears released him with an injury designation. Around mid-November, the Panthers decided to sign Roberts to their own practice squad. Near the end of the season, the team decided to put him on the active roster due to the litany of injuries on the defensive line. He only played in three games and managed a meager 24 defensive snaps and seven special teams snaps. He registered one assisted tackle in that time.

Roberts was mostly a warm body at the end of an atrocious year for the Panthers defense. With the free agent signings and draft picks mostly bolstering the defensive line, Roberts will likely have to continue his journeyman career. I just don’t see room for him on the final roster at this time. He may be a good practice squad option, though.

Notable Previous Players to Wear Number 74: Greg Little, Mike Remmers, Geoff Schwartz, Stanley McClover, Derrick Graham​


Little was a second round pick by the Panthers in 2019. Despite high hopes, he quickly flamed out and was gone after just two seasons in Carolina. Mike Remmers was another tackle to don the 74, and he fared much better than Little. Remmers was a serviceable right tackle during the 2015 Super Bowl run until Mike Shula decided he could totally block Von Miller one on one. Geoff Schwartz was another offensive lineman to see relative success in the 74, though he was only with the team for a couple of seasons. Stanley McClover was a minor footnote in Panthers lore until the team drafted his younger brother Brian Burns in 2019. After that, McClover became part of a feel good story before Burns was traded to the New York Giants in 2024. The first player to wear 74 for the Panthers was Derrick Graham in their inaugural season of 1995. The former App State Mountaineer started his career with the Kansas City Chiefs before playing right tackle for the Panthers in 95.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...on-opener-countdown-74-days-sam-roberts-to-go
 
Brian Asks: Bring us your end of June fan questions!

NFL: Carolina Panthers Minicamp

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

We bring you another edition of our questions portion of the weekly mailbag!

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Asks, part one of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! The heat is turning on around the country, meaning is starting to feel like one thing: training camp season. While we’re at the point in the off-season where all people can really talk about is projections such as how Bryce Young will statistically do in the upcoming season, we’re not going to really have a solid idea of anything until we see the players come together again, and really start to ramp things up. That said, I know you’ve all been talking about the Panthers just about every day and the questions keep coming every week.

you all know the drill, comment down below with all of your questions, whether they be Panthers related, football related, or completely off topic. Later on in the week, I will have your answers and I will highlight some of the best discussion pieces as this piece is intended to drum up conversation.

comment down below, and keep pounding!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...-asks-bring-us-your-end-of-june-fan-questions
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 73 Days to Go

NFL: Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

In this series, we’ll be counting down until opening kickoff by running through the Panthers roster by jersey number. Today’s piece looks at the current and historical players to have ever donned No. 73 for the Carolina Panthers.

Current Player: Brandon Walton​


Walton (6’5”, 300 lbs) was originally signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic University following the 2020 NFL Draft. He was cut before the season started and signed on with the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad for all of 2020. After signing Walton to a futures contract, the Steelers waived him in August 2021, leading him to sign with the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The following season, he was signed to the active roster by the Bucs and spent the whole season with the team, playing 11 games including a couple starts at tackle.

Last season, Walton followed Dave Canales to Carolina and spent the season on the practice squad, getting elevated to the practice squad a couple of times and appearing in one game for the Panthers. With the team returning their entire offensive line and main backups, Walton is likely destined for another stint on the practice squad or being waived outright.

Notable Previous Players to Wear Number 73: Michael Jordan, Greg Van Roten, Michael Oher, Mackenzy Bernadeau, Jeremy Bridges​


The player to don 73 before Walton was Michael Jordan, a 6’6” guard from North Carolina Ohio State. Fan favorite Greg Van Roten held down roster spot for a little while with the team in the late 2010s. Perhaps the most famous player outside our own fandom to wear 73 for the Panthers was Mr. Blindside himself, Michael Oher, who wore it for two seasons, including the 2015 Super Bowl run. Bernadeau was the Panthers 7th round pick in the 2008 Draft and was an occasional starter for three seasons before moving on to the Dallas Cowboys. Bridges, who was originally a sixth round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2003, was a solid contributor and starter at tackle and guard for a couple years in the mid 2000s. He also returned in 2012 after a stint with the Arizona Cardinals.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...rs-2025-season-opener-countdown-73-days-to-go
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 71 Days to Go

NFL: Carolina Panthers Rookie Minicamp

This is an old picture of Jalen Redmond, who’s not on the team anymore. | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

There are 71 days left of offseason that separate us from the first day of the 2025 regular season for the Carolina Panthers. That means today’s countdown post is dedicated to the men who donned the #71 jersey for the Panthers. The man wearing it today is offensive lineman Michael Tarquin.

It’s hard to find much on Tarquin. All I know is he played college football for six seasons between Florida, USC, and Oklahoma while starting most of those games. He didn’t get drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and was promptly signed for the Panthers. That’s all I got.

The number hasn’t meant much to anyone throughout the entire existence of the Panthers franchise. Defensive tackle Greg Kragen had some success in it during the organization’s first three years of play. After that, it had been given to a couple of decent offensive linemen in early the 2000s—Matt Willig and Evan Mathis (who went on to eventually be dominant in Philadelphia several years later). It hasn’t been worn by a player of consequence since 2007.

Tarquin will try to join the ranks of rotational offensive linemen that wore the number 71 for the Panthers, but he has a mountain to climb since the team actually has some depth along the offensive front for once.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...rs-2025-season-opener-countdown-71-days-to-go
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 70 Days To Go

NFL: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

There are 70 days until the first game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. Today’s piece looks focuses on a Panther draft pick entering his fifth year with the team, that’s number 70 Brady Christensen.

The Panthers made Christensen, a left tackle out of BYU, the 70th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has been a dependable and versatile player for a team whose leadership has been anything but during his time in Charlotte. Christensen has served a part time starter at left tackle, a full time starter at left guard (in 2022), and has played everything but right tackle since being drafted. He is just one of many players who has struggled to reach his ceiling between the inconsistent preachings of Matt Rhule, Frank Reich, and now Dave Canales. That is probably a large part of why Christensen ended up back with the Panthers on a one-year deal in free agency this year.

Since Canales’ tenure seems to be off to a better start than either of his most recent predecessors, Christensen probably feels like this is his best place to prove his value as, at least, a rotational piece that can start all five positions along the offensive line in a pinch. It’s that or the kid just really loves Charlotte.

Between his value as a third round pick, Ickey Ekwonu’s less than perfect performance as a first round pick, and the Panthers overall struggle to replace Jordan Gross, Christensen and his future with the Panthers has been the subject of consistent debate amongst the Panthers faithful. Where do you fall on his role with the Panthers? Is he the perfect utility guy to keep on the roster or is he the best value and/or bet to hold up the left tackle spot and protect Bryce Young’s blind side?

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...stensen-season-opener-countdown-70-days-to-go
 
2025 Season Opener Countdown: 69 Days To Go

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Carolina Panthers


We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!

There are 69 days until the first game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. Today’s piece looks at the history of the number 69 jersey, which no player is currently wearing per Panthers.com.

Only three players have worn the number 69 jersey for more than a season. Those players are defensive end Les Miller, left tackle and team legend Jordan Gross, and center Tyler Larsen. They, and a few other one year players like defensive end Jared Allen, wore this jersey for 22 out of the Panthers 30 years.

  • Miller was an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State and Fort Hays State Universities in 1987. He had multiple stints with the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers until being out of football in 1995. He joined the '96 Panthers and stuck around as a rotational player and occasional starter through the 1998 season. He played in 45 games and started 19 for the young Panthers.
  • Gross is the standard that all Panthers left tackles are held to. He provided and incredibly stable presence on and off the field. He started all 167 games that he was healthy for in his 11 year career, from the time the Panthers made him the eighth overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft to the day he retired after the 2013 season.

In many ways, the Panthers have been trying to replace Gross since his retirement. The team has had leaders and it even now has a multi-year starter at left tackle in Ikem Ekwonu, but it has never replaced Gross' combination of character, leadership, and competence in one player.

  • Larsen joined the Panthers at the start of their current decline. The 2016 Panthers had hope and even a false start playoff appearance in 2017, but slid downhill through the remainder of Larsen's years (2016-2020) in Charlotte and beyond.

As a player, he was a reasonably reliable back up center who helped the team transition on from the stalwart tenure of Ryan Kalil. He was also a Ron Rivera guy who followed the former Panthers head coach to Washington with a bunch of other former Panthers. Larsen lasted another three seasons with the Commanders before retiring from the NFL.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/20...ss-2025-season-opener-countdown-69-days-to-go
 
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