The wait is finally over: meaningful football is back. College Football’s Week One kicks off this week, with the NFL following closely behind, debuting on Wednesday, 9.9 this year.
Carolina won’t be a part of the opening game of the regular season like they were in the preseason, but will begin their debut in Charlotte against Chicago on Sunday, 9.13. For a look at the Panthers’ entire schedule, check out this preview from back in the summer.
Following training camp and the preseason, the final step towards gearing up for the games that count was trimming the roster from 90ish players to the NFL-designated 53.
Cut day took place last weekend, where Carolina was forced to whittle down their 3-1 preseason squad to the players fans will see on Sundays (and Thursday, Monday this season).
While there are only 53 active players on a roster at any given time, teams are still allowed 16 players (plus one international player) on their practice squads, as well as any players placed on injury lists such as IR and PUP.
All of these combined give bring Carolina’s total roster to around 80 players. Only 45ish will be active on gamedays, but it’s still a bit more robust than the initial 53-man roster seems to be.
With the roster movement mostly settled, let’s take a look at the 2026 Carolina Panthers, starting with the most important position in football.
Quarterback
Starter: Bryce Young
Backups/Reserves: Kenny Pickett, Haynes King (R)
Practice Squad: n/a
Injured/Reserved Lists: n/a
Biggest Surprise: Haynes King making the active roster instead of practice squad
For the fourth straight season, Bryce Young will lead the Cardiac Cats into battle. The difference this year, is the change in the quarterback(s) behind him.
Andy Dalton has been replaced by Kenny Pickett, who is much younger and more athletic, resembling Bryce’s ability to scramble and create when necessary a bit better than the 38-year old Dalton was able to.
Behind Pickett is undrafted rookie free agent, and star of the Hall of Fame Game, Haynes King. King is a raw, but talented developmental player that Head Coach Dave Canales has long intimated that he wants.
King can become the eventual backup down the line, but this will be the Bryce Young show in 2026, and rightfully so.
Carolina picked up Young’s fifth-year option on his rookie contract, but has yet to commit to a long-term extension with the former No. 1 overall pick. This will be a pivotal year - both for Young and Carolina’s future at the quarterback position.
Running Back
Starters: Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks
Backups/Reserves: AJ Dillon
Practice Squad: Tre Tyus, Ahmani Marshall
Injured/Reserved Lists: Trevor Etienne
Biggest Surprise: AJ Dillon making the active roster over Trevor Etienne
A surprisingly-thin position to start the season is running back, especially with the loss of Trevor Etienne to IR. However, there is optimism to believe the stagnant and maligned run game during the Canales era can improve in 2026.
Jonathon Brooks being and having a fully-healthy offseason for the first time in his NFL career is huge, and will hopefully allow the still young RB to hit the ground running in Week One.
Outside of Brooks, Chuba Hubbard still remains at the top of the food chain in the running back room. Hubbard dealt with a hamstring injury during the preseason, but has returned to practice this week.
AJ Dillon making the roster is a big deal for the Panthers. One of the key weaknesses of the Panthers offense has been 3rd down conversions. Somehow, this team seemed to be better at 3rd and mediums than 3rd and shorts.
The answer lies with the lack of a short-yardage back, at least until now. The stout Dillon has been a bruiser for most of his career, and showed in the preseason that he’s still got it, both as a runner and pass-catcher.
If Dillon can bring a change of pace and help convert short yardage situations, the Panthers poor run game might actually turn into a strength for the first time since 2022.
Wide Receiver
Starters: Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette
Backups/Reserves: Brycen Tremayne, Jimmy Horn Jr, John Metchie III
Practice Squad: Ja’Seem Reed, Casey Washington, David Moore
Injured/Reserved Lists: Chris Brazzell II (R), Malick Meiga (R)
Biggest Surprise: David Moore not making the active roster
This is probably the most talented receiver room that Bryce Young has at his disposal since coming into the league. That’s not exactly a high bar to clear, but there is adequate talent in the room this year, something that hasn’t been the case.
At the top are McMillan and Coker, the dynamic duo that combined for 215 yards on 14 receptions in Carolina’s playoff loss to LA. McMillan won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award last season, and Coker won a decent payday. These two should impress again in 2026.
Xavier Legette and Brycen Tremayne are the next tier, both of whom are familiar with the system - a trait that shouldn’t be taken for granted, given the Panthers change in offensive play-caller.
Jimmy Horn Jr. and John Metchie III impressed enough throughout training camp and the preseason to make the active roster. Horn has become indispensable in the return game, and Metchie brings familiarity with Bryce Young, and a proclivity for finding “hidden yards” according to Canales.
Perhaps the most important movement in the receiver room was having veteran David Moore on the practice squad instead of taking a spot on the active roster.
Moore making way for much more talented receivers is a significant example of growth from Dave Canales, who has kept more familiar players in years past. Horn or Metchie can likely bring more as receivers, which matters for a team with playoff expectations in 2026.
Tight End
Starters: Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans
Backups/Reserves: Darren Waller, JT Sanders, Feleipe Franks
Practice Squad: n/a
Injured/Reserved Lists: Bryce Pierre
Biggest Surprise: Keeping all five tight ends on the active roster
Production from tight ends has been something this team has lacked since the days of Greg Olsen in the 2010s. Carolina has largely been tight end by committee since then, and this year that committee will have many mouths to feed.
Keeping five tight ends means cutting corners somewhere else, but both Canales and General Manager Dan Morgan in their post-training camp pressers indicated that all five bring necessary skillsets.
Maybe the biggest addition to this group was the late signing of Darren Waller. Waller may have only caught 24 passes last year, but 25% of those passes went for scores. Waller missed the preseason games while getting back into NFL shape and speed, but has looked good in practice.
If Waller can provide even a shred of what he did last year in Miami, this team’s tight end room will be a much more imposing force in the pass game.
The other key addition to the room was the return of special teams extraordinaire Feleipe Franks. After a one-year stop in Atlanta, Franks is back to help captain a special teams unit that needs to improve from last season.
Offensive Line
Starters: Rasheed Walker, Damien Lewis, Luke Fortner, Robert Hunt, Monroe Freeling (R)
Backups/Reserves: Stone Forsythe, Albert Reese (R), Sam Hecht (R), Corey Bullock
Practice Squad: Jake Curhan, Torricelli Simpkins III, Chandler Zavala
Injured/Reserved Lists: Ickey Ekwonu, Taylor Moton, Brady Christensen, Ryan Hayes
Biggest Surprise: Albert Reese making the active roster
Even before cut day, the Panthers were going to have to deal with a shuffling offensive line. Losing Taylor Moton before training camp, in addition to Ekwonu’s recovery and now Brady Christensen’s IR stint have forced the team to rely on depth.
The five starters being kept are self-explanatory, Walker, Lewis, Fortner, Hunt, and Freeling will all see immediate time on the field. Rookie center Sam Hecht and Stone Forsythe also make sense as immediate depth, though for fans’ sake, hopefully won’t have to see the field.
Undrafted rookie Albert Reese making the team is a bit of a welcome surprise, he graded extremely well during the preseason and likely would’ve been claimed during the waiver process, so keeping him around as tackle depth is a shrewd move.
Carolina’s lone waiver claim, and the final piece of the active OL puzzle is Corey Bullock, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens. After waiving longtime backup Chandler Zavala (now on the practice squad), the Panthers need more guard/center depth, which Bullock can provide.
Where this room gets difficult is during the season, once some of the injured players possibly return.
It’s hard to imagine Taylor Moton not starting, and he will likely do so if he returns this season. Brady Christensen is also a valuable depth piece - able to play at all five spots. His return would surely displace one of the players on the active roster as well.
Lastly, Ickey Ekwonu, who is recovering from a torn patellar tendon suffered in the playoff loss to LA, is on a better track to return than previously thought. Canales has indicated that the Panthers are hopeful that Ekwonu won’t miss the entire season.
If this is the case, Ekwonu’s spot along the active roster is a bit more murky than the other injured players. Should Walker and Freeling provide stability at the tackle spots, perhaps the best move for Ekwonu would be as a depth piece this season.
More of Ekwonu’s options moving forward are discussed here.
Defensive Line
Starters: Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown III, Cam Jackson
Backups/Reserves: Lee Hunter (R), Aaron Hall (R), TeRah Edwards
Practice Squad: Parker Petersen (R), Anthony Goodlow
Injured/Reserved Lists: Tershawn Wharton
Biggest Surprise: Trading a future pick to LAC for TeRah Edwards
On the other side of the field, the defensive line looks to be much healthier. Big free agency addition from last season Turk Wharton is going to miss an indeterminant amount of time, but the rest of the group expects to enter the season healthy.
A starting group of Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown III, and sophomore riser Cam Jackson looks to be quite potent, especially against the run. Mixing in second round pick Lee Hunter should help against the run even more.
It’s become a theme during the Dan Morgan era of identifying undrafted rookie free agents that can contribute to the active roster. Players like Jalen Coker, Ryan Fitzgerald, and Corey Thornton have all had significant roles as UDFAs.
Duke DL Aaron Hall looks to be the next player in that department. Hall impressed throughout training camp and the preseason, to the point that the Panthers couldn’t risk him hitting waivers. Hall should bring some juice to the interior pass rush in a rotational role this season.
Perhaps the biggest surprise during the cut down process was Dan Morgan’s first ever pick-for-player trade. Late Sunday (8.30) evening, Carolina sent a 2028 6th Round Pick to the LA Charges for DL TeRah Edwards.
For Morgan to send a pick in a deal and not receive one back must mean the team really likes Edwards. It’s easy to see why - he brings the juice.
Aside from just splash plays, the Panthers were interested in Edwards’ down-to-down impact. Dan Morgan sounded excited during the post-cuts presser regarding why the team added Edwards:
“…we identified him in the preseason and he stuck out on tape. You know his motor, he’s strong, he’s physical, he plays the style that we’re looking for here. So [the trade] was really an easy decision for me.”
- Dan Morgan on sending a pick for TeRah Edwards
If nothing else, Edwards and Hall can provide adequate depth until Turk Wharton returns. Regardless, this is a position group that should me much-improved compared to last season.
Edge Defender
Starters: Jaelan Phillips, Patrick Jones II
Backups/Reserves: Princely Umanmielen, Thomas Incoom, Trevis Gipson
Practice Squad: Cam Gill
Injured/Reserved Lists: Nic Scourton
Biggest Surprise: No additions to the position on the active roster or practice squad
One of the thinnest groups following cut downs are the edge defenders. Despite bringing back all six of the players that headlined the position in camp (Cam Gill is on the practice squad), this group did not do much to inject talent outside of the Phillips signing.
Adding Phillips, the return of Jones from injury, and the emergence of Umanmielen in his second year give hope that the room can finally start generating pressure - a key weakness in every year Ejiro Evero has been the defensive coordinator.
If any position gets addressed with depth prior to the season, I would expect it to be edge rusher. Carolina will need Jaelan Phillips to live up to his $30 million per year deal for this group to match what the defensive line’s level of play.
Linebacker
Starters: Devin Lloyd, Bobby Okereke
Backups/Reserves: Jackson Kuwatch (R), Claudin Cherelus
Practice Squad: Tyrell Dodson, Mapalo Mwansa
Injured/Reserved Lists: Bam Martin-Scott
Biggest Surprise: Releasing former 3rd round pick Trevin Wallace
Probably the most significant cut Carolina made last weekend was former Top 75 pick Trevin Wallace. Wallace, after spending his first two years as a starter, was released in favor of both internal development and external help.
Not only was Wallace released, but the entire position group got a facelift from last year:
Christian Rozeboom → Devin Lloyd
Trevin Wallace → Bobby Okereke
Claudin Cherelus → Claudin Cherelus
Bam Martin-Scott → Jackson Kuwatch
Even the practice squad is much-improved with the addition of Tyrell Dodson, a player with plenty of starting experience.
The additions take this group from a much-maligned spot on Evero’s defense to, potentially, a strength in the middle of the field. Lloyd and Okereke, even without playing a snap, is likely the best LB duo since the team fielded Kuechly and Davis back in the glory days.
Improved coverage ability, better blitz potential, and more sound tackling should all translate on the field this season with the investment this team has made in the position.
Corner
Starters: Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson
Backups/Reserves: Will Lee III (R), Chau Smith-Wade, Akayleb Evans
Practice Squad: DeVonta Smith (R), Corey Thornton, Zion Childress
Injured/Reserved Lists: n/a
Biggest Surprise: Releasing former starter Corey Thornton
Corner is another position that isn’t seeing a lot of wholesale change, but does have marginal improvements that should translate this season.
Adding physical rookie Will Lee III could be a larger addition than just being another player in the room. Throughout training camp and the preseason, Lee lined up almost exclusively on the boundary, where he thrived in college.
If Lee is able to hold up on the outside, it gives Evero a chance to move star corner Jaycee Horn around and into the slot, a position where he thrived early in his career under former Defensive Coordinator Phil Snow.
Other than Lee, the big story in the corner room is Chau Smith-Wade seemingly winning his starting role back from Corey Thornton last season. Smith-Wade had an excellent camp, topped off with a crazy interception against Jacksonville in Preseason Week 2.
Horn, Jackson, Lee, and Smith-Wade give Carolina comfortable options in coverage. Special teams stud Akayleb Evans also can contribute, and has had to do so when called upon over the past few years.
Safety
Starters: Tre’von Moehrig, Nick Scott
Backups/Reserves: Lathan Ransom, Zakee Wheatley (R)
Practice Squad: Isaiah Simmons
Injured/Reserved Lists: n/a
Biggest Surprise: No additions to the position on the active roster or practice squad
Perhaps the position group that will rely the most upon internal growth is the safety room. Outside of 5th round rookie Zakee Wheatley, the Panthers are running it back with Moehrig and Scott as the starters, with Lathan Ransom as a reserve.
Ransom and Wheatley have both shone during the preseason, both as tacklers and in coverage. If both players can have a similar impact during the regular season, the safety room can be in a decent spot.
Even with growth from the young players and steady play from the starters, this is probably the weakest group on the Panther defense. Just like with the edge rushers, I wouldn’t be surprised to see an addition to the safeties at some point in the season.
Specialists
Starters: JJ Jansen, Sam Martin, Ryan Fitzgerald
Backups/Reserves: n/a
Practice Squad: n/a
Injured/Reserved Lists: n/a
There isn’t much to say about the specialists - other than that consistency is underrated.
The trio of Carolina’s oldest player in Jansen, a reliable punter in Martin, and an extremely clutch kicker in Fitzgerald is a huge boon for Carolina. Special teams are a significant part of the NFL game, and having all the key players back is important.
Fitzgerald in particular will be interesting to watch. After having four game-winning field goals in his rookie season, the Panthers have shown a willingness to lean on him in the clutch.
During the preseason, Fitzgerald also hit a career-long 61-yard field goal, hinting at being even more reliable this season.
A stable kicker, reliable pros at long snapper and punter, AND having key special teams players like Akayleb Evans, Feleipe Franks, and Thomas Incoom, should all combine to help Carolina stay one of the more consistent special teams units in the NFL.
The conclusion I come to when looking at this roster is a positive one. Simply put:
This is the best roster in the Bryce Young era.
It’s clear to see the vision that Dan Morgan and Dave Canales laid out in 2024 is starting to come into fruition. Real talent has been brought in via the NFL Draft and free agency, turning this group into a competent NFL team.
Training camp and the preseason are over, and with the regular season less than ten days away, it’s time to see if Carolina can avoid another slow start, hopefully on the way to another playoff run.