The Panthers face the Bears on Thursday in their first preseason game of the year. While exhibition football is far from the prettiest thing on earth, it’s an important opportunity for many players fighting for a roster spot.
Here are seven players who we will be watching closely.
1. The quarterbacks
Coach Ron Rivera told the media on Monday that all four Carolina quarterbacks should play against the Bears, but he changed his mind on Tuesday.
Cam Newton will not be playing after all and Kyle Allen is set to start in his place. He is our favorite to win the backup quarterback job and he’s listed at No. 2 on the team’s first unofficial depth chart of the year. He had a strong showing against the Saints to close out 2018.
Will Grier is the heir apparent at backup QB, but he’ll have to earn the role. Draft analysts like the touch Grier puts on deep passes. However, his mechanics will need to be improved.
Taylor Heinicke hasn’t been heard from much at training camp as he recovers from his arm injury. This has put him behind the competition at QB2, so he could use a strong performance to stay in the conversation.
2. OT Greg Little
Perhaps no other player’s development is more critical to Carolina’s success this year than second-round pick Greg Little. The Panthers have been missing a legitimate starting left tackle ever since Jordan Gross retired and they’re hoping Little will finally fill that hole.
However, Little’s game is still raw and he’s starting out with the second-string offensive line unit while Daryl Williams runs with the starters. Little was an excellent pass blocker in college but he will have to improve his run blocking in order to earn the starting left tackle gig.
3. OL Dennis Daley
The Panthers brought in another offensive lineman in the sixth round. Daley has mostly played left tackle in his career, most recently at South Carolina. It sounds like offensive line coach John Matsko has a different role in mind for him, though.
Yesterday after practice Daley told reporters that he’s learning to play four positions: left tackle, left guard, right guard and right tackle. Tyler Larsen can play all the inside positions but the Panthers could definitely use another legitimate utility lineman. If Daley can be that guy, he’ll secure a long-term role for himself in Norv Turner’s offense.
4. WR/PR Jaydon Mickens
General manager Marty Hurney waited until relatively late in the offseason to address the team’s hole at return specialist.
Enter former Jaguars wide receiver/kick returner Jaydon Mickens, who instantly moves to the top of the depth chart at punt returner. He’s averaged 8.9 yards per punt return in his NFL career and scored a touchdown in 2017. Mickens also has experience returning kickoffs, averaging 21.1 yards on eight attempts.
Right now, Mickens is listed at No. 2 at kick returner behind Cameron Artis-Payne, but there’s a chance he’ll play both roles once the season starts.
5. OLB Brian Burns
It will be impossible for any Panthers pass rusher to fill the void left behind by the legendary Julius Peppers. The arrival of first-round pick Brian Burns does signal a new era at the position, though.
Unlike Peppers, Burns is a smaller type of rusher who uses his speed to get to the quarterback. Burns has been impressing at training camp with his quick get-off, but this will be our first chance to see how Burns stacks up against real NFL competition.
6. OLB Christian Miller
Compared to Burns, there hasn’t been much hype surrounding fourth-round pick Christian Miller at camp. In fact, we have hardly heard his name mentioned at all throughout the offseason. Part of that is due to injuries, but Miller finally got some time with the starters on Monday with Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin getting vet days off.
Miller’s length and athleticism should make him at least a decent pass rusher at the pro level. The question with him will be how well he can defend against the run.
7. CB Ryan Pulley
Finally, the Panthers added another new face to their secondary recently when they waived safety Kai Nacua and signed former Arkansas cornerback Ryan Pulley.
Pulley has a wide frame for a corner (5-foot-11, 198 pounds) and earned praise for his tenacity and ball skills in college. It’s unclear what role he will be playing for Rivera’s defense just yet, but he could be a good candidate to play the backup big nickel role given his skill-set.
