What do we even refer to Jeremy Chinn as these days?
Is he still a safety? Is he a linebacker now? How about a nickelback?
If you’re looking for an answer, don’t ask new Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
ESPN’s David Newton tried that on Tuesday afternoon, when Evero took the podium for a few questions following some practice work earlier in the day. But Newton’s inquiry wouldn’t result in a firm answer.
“Well, we don’t wanna talk too much about that,” Evero replied. “I’ll say this—we think very highly of him and I think he’s a heck of a player. He’s a weapon that we’re definitely gonna try to utilize. And I know that he’s an asset for us to have.”
Newton then asked if the Panthers would try to use Chinn in a “more traditional sense.” That, too, failed to yield a definitive response.
“I don’t wanna get too much of the specifics,” Evero added. “But we just value his skill set. He’s a guy that can do a lot of different things and you just gotta have him on the field. And we’re gonna figure that out as we work through.”
Evero will be implementing a bit of a switch for Carolina on defense, as they’ll transition from a 4-3 base to a 3-4. The team’s free-agent signings of safeties Vonn Bell from this offseason and Xavier Woods from the last—both of whom are projected as the starters at the position—will also factor into Chinn’s future.
But whether he’ll still be considered a safety or get down closer to the line of scrimmage, Evero seems intent on getting the versatile playmaker involved. So, until we get to that point, perhaps we’ll just call Chinn that.
