The work in the trenches continues for the Carolina Panthers. Defensive lineman Bryan Cox Jr. has signed his exclusive rights tender, so he will be returning to the team in 2019.
Cox hasn’t seen much playing time since Carolina first signed him two years ago. Last season, Cox was only on the field for 200 defensive snaps, about 20 percent of the team’s total.
While the opportunities haven’t been there, Cox has flashed at times, especially in the preseason when he’s gotten more work.
Going forward, it will be interesting to see how Cox develops. Jourdan Rodrigue at the Charlotte Observer says the team is considering lining him up more inside as well as on the edge.
There’s other reasons to believe that Cox’s stock may soon be rising.
When the Panthers signed defensive end/linebacker Bruce Irvin a couple of days ago, he mentioned that Cox is one of the young players he wants to work with, describing him as a “young Bruce.”
Irvin has played in over 100 games in his NFL career. That experience will not only ease Carolina’s front seven transition to more 3-4 looks, it also can help players like Cox in their development.
One factor to watch is what the team decides to do with Wes Horton. He has been serviceable as a backup for the last six years, but is now a free agent.
If Horton is not re-signed, there’s a strong chance Cox will see his snap count grow a lot this coming season.
