CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Carolina Panthers open the 2022 NFL regular season against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 11 at Bank of America Stadium.
The two biggest questions entering training camp were quarterback and left tackle. Baker Mayfield won the quarterback job in what the team called an "open'' competition against Sam Darnold. First-round pick Ikem Ekwonu was made the left tackle the fourth week of camp despite obvious inconsistencies in his pass-blocking.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Here's a projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, PJ Walker
Losing rookie Matt Corral for the season with a Lisfranc tear in his left foot complicated this. It was complicated more when Sam Darnold suffered an ankle injury in Friday night's preseason finale against Buffalo. The plan was go with three quarterbacks, and Corral would have been the third behind Mayfield and Darnold. The team was considering moving on from Walker after Corral's injury. Now it likely will need to keep him in case Darnold's injury could keep him out of the opener.
RUNNING BACK (4): Christian McCaffrey, D'Onta Foreman, Chuba Hubbard, Giovanni Ricci (FB)
This hasn't changed since the start of camp. Acquiring former Titans back Foreman as insurance in case McCaffrey misses time again was a key offseason move. And odds are McCaffrey won't play all 17 games. He has missed 23 of his past 33 starts due to injuries. Foreman also gives Carolina a nice change-of-pace back in new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo's power running game.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): DJ Moore, Robbie Anderson, Terrace Marshall Jr., Shi Smith, Rashard Higgins, Andre Roberts.
Having to leave C.J. Saunders or Brandon Zylstra off was a tough call, but made necessary by having to keep three quarterbacks. Saunders has dealt with a calf injury in camp. Zylstra has been surpassed by Shi Smith with spectacular play the last few weeks, but he's still valuable on special teams.
TIGHT END (3): Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble, Colin Thompson
Injuries in camp have made this position tough to evaluate, and there's not a lot of separation after Thomas and Tremble as the top two. The good news is Ricci, listed as a fullback, also plays the position. So that could make Stephen Sullivan expendable.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): T Ikem Ekwonu, T Taylor Moton, T Cameron Erving, G-T Brady Christensen, G Austin Corbett, G Michael Jordan, G-C Pat Elflein, G Cade Mays, C Bradley Bozeman
The decision to move forward with No. 6 overall pick Ekwonu as the starting left tackle was a good one despite his inexperience. He needs to grow into the job. It appears 2021 sixth-round pick Deonte Brown (G) and veteran Dennis Daley (G-T) are on the way out. The good news here is the team is so much deeper than a year ago that it can afford to move on from them, particularly Brown after the team drafted Mays.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): DE Brian Burns, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, DE Marquis Haynes Sr., DE Amare Barno, T Derrick Brown, T Matt Ioannidis, Daviyon Nixon, T Bravvion Roy, T Phil Hoskins
Cutting DE Darryl Johnson was the toughest decision here, but the Panthers need the depth at tackle. That Johnson was ejected from a joint practice at New England didn't help his cause. Look for Carolina to continue monitoring the waiver wire, looking for depth along the line, particularly at end.
LINEBACKER (6): Shaq Thompson, Frankie Luvu, Cory Littleton, Brandon Smith, Damien Wilson, Julian Stanford
Carolina could go with five players here, which could make the 31-year-old Stanford expendable. But Stanford is such a valuable commodity on special teams and the Panthers have put an emphasis on that area this season.
CORNERBACK (6): Jaycee Horn, Donte Jackson, CJ Henderson, Keith Taylor Jr., Kalon Barnes, Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
The deepest and arguably most talented area on the team creates difficult cuts like Tae Hayes. But the top three -- Horn, Jackson, Henderson -- were set before camp began, so there were a lot of players battling for only three spots.
SAFETY (4): Jeremy Chinn, Xavier Woods, Juston Burris, Myles Hartsfield
Woods was a huge offseason move and has solidified this unit. Cutting Sam Franklin Jr., who can make an impact on special teams, was the hardest move here.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3): K TBD, P Johnny Hekker, DS J.J. Jansen
The Panthers are exploring all options to replace Zane Gonzalez, who suffered a significant groin injury Friday. Adding Roberts as a kick returner is part of coach Matt Rhule's emphasis to win with special teams.