Welcome to the last weekend of 2023 without Carolina Panthers football! And until we get to next Sunday, when the real action begins, let’s get you ready.
Here, even with one spot on the active roster left to fill, is our projection for the Panthers’ initial regular-season depth chart.
Under center
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string |
| QB | Bryce Young | Andy Dalton |
Now that Matt Corral is off the initial 53-man roster and off to New England, the Panthers head into the regular season with the face of their franchise and his 13th-year backup.
Backfield
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| RB | Miles Sanders | Chuba Hubbard | Raheem Blackshear |
Sanders, who did not play a single preseason snap due to a groin injury, “absolutely” expects to be ready for the opener.
Pass catchers
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string | 4th string |
| WR | DJ Chark | Terrace Marshall Jr. | ||
| WR | Jonathan Mingo | Laviska Shenault Jr. | ||
| SWR | Adam Thielen | Ihmir Smith-Marsette | ||
| TE | Hayden Hurst | Ian Thomas | Tommy Tremble | Giovanni Ricci |
With Chark (hamstring), Marshall Jr. (back) and Shenault Jr. (concussion) currently on the mend, we’ll get a clearer picture of who’s good to go as the week progresses.
Offensive line
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| LT | Ikem Ekwonu | Ricky Lee | |
| LG | Brady Christensen | Calvin Throckmorton | |
| C | Bradley Bozeman | ||
| RG | Chandler Zavala | Cade Mays | Nash Jensen |
| RT | Taylor Moton |
*Reserve/PUP list: Austin Corbett
After picking up the last two preseason starts at the contested right guard position, Zavala gets our nod over Mays.
Defensive line
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string |
| DE | Derrick Brown | LaBryan Ray |
| NT | Shy Tuttle | Nick Thurman |
| DE | DeShawn Williams |
IR: Henry Anderson
General manager Scott Fitterer could use that open 53rd spot to add another big man here before next Sunday.
In the middle and off the edge
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string | 3rd string |
| LOLB | Justin Houston | Yetur Gross-Matos | DJ Johnson |
| ILB | Shaq Thompson | Kamu Grugier-Hill | |
| ILB | Frankie Luvu | Claudin Cherelus | |
| ROLB | Brian Burns | Marquis Haynes Sr. | Amaré Barno |
Burns and Houston will make their on-field debut as a duo in Atlanta.
Secondary
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string |
| CB | Jaycee Horn | CJ Henderson |
| CB | Donte Jackson | Troy Hill |
| NCB | Jeremy Chinn | D’Shawn Jamison |
| SS | Vonn Bell | Jammie Robinson |
| FS | Xavier Woods | Sam Franklin |
Like Sanders, Jackson anticipates a healthy slate for the start of the campaign.
Specialists
| Position | 1st string | 2nd string |
| K | Eddy Piñeiro | |
| P | Johnny Hekker | |
| LS | JJ Jansen | |
| KR | Raheem Blackshear | Ihmir Smith-Marsette |
| PR | Raheem Blackshear | Ihmir Smith-Marsette |
Smith-Marsette, who has some gamebreaking capabilities, could eventually challenge for at least one of those returner spots.
