CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers open the 2024 NFL regular season at the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 8 at Caesars Superdome.
New general manager Dan Morgan and first-year coach Dave Canales have shied away from expectations for a team coming off six straight losing seasons with second-year starting quarterback in Bryce Young, who had a dismal rookie season, and an overall lack of depth.
The Panthers might play much of the first quarter of the 2024 season without key contributors such as rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee), outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum (quadriceps) and cornerback Dane Jackson (hamstring) out with injuries.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection for the Panthers:
QUARTERBACKS (2): Bryce Young, Andy Dalton
Young didn't lose confidence last season when he was 2-14 with 11 touchdown passes as the starter. Canales, known as a "quarterback whisperer," believes he can build off that with an offense built around a power running game and getting passes out quickly. Young has better weapons now, and the system allows him to play more freely, but much will depend on his rebuilt line after he was sacked 62 times in 2023. The third quarterback, Jack Plummer or someone signed after roster cuts, will be on the practice squad.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear, Mike Boone
Second-round pick Jonathon Brooks is the future, but he won't be ready to start the season and likely will be placed on the physically unable to perform list, which would sideline him until the fifth game. That opens the door for Boone to make the roster. Hubbard is the starter until then, with Sanders pushing him in a prove-it season after losing the job last year. Sanders might be tradable when Brooks returns, but don't count on that happening. The Panthers want to run and use multiple backs to do it.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo, Xavier Legette, Terrace Marshall Jr., Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Johnson clearly is Young's top weapon. This position got crowded because Mingo and Marshall had a solid preseason, outplaying first-round pick Legette for the most part. Smith-Marsette is here as a kick returner, but to keep six at what already is an upgrade over last season, the Panthers will have to adjust at another position. David Moore will be a tough cut.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, Ja'Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews
Injuries and a surprise showing by converted wide receiver Matthews have complicated things here. Thomas (calf) could miss the opener, which makes Matthews' chances even better. If Thomas is ready, this group could trim to three. Sanders is the future, but Tremble is the most consistent right now. Regardless, this position is definitely an upgrade from the past few seasons.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10): T Ikem Ekwonu, G Damien Lewis, C Austin Corbett, G Robert Hunt, T Taylor Moton, G-T Brady Christensen, T Ricky Lee, C-G Cade Mays, G Chandler Zavala, Yosh Nijman.
The big question here is depth, which brings us to Nijman (leg), a veteran signed to a two-year, $8 million deal in March to be the swing tackle. He passed his physical Thursday and was activated from the PUP list. Although he might not be ready for the opener, he is solid insurance. Overall, the starting line should be better after Carolina spent $150 million in free agency on Hunt and Lewis to solidify the middle that allowed 35 of Young's 62 sacks. There still are questions, such as how Corbett will transition from guard to center and whether 2022 first-round pick (No. 6 overall) Ekwonu can rebound from a disastrous second season.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): DE Derrick Brown, T Shy Tuttle, DE A'Shawn Robinson, T Nick Thurman, DE LaBryan Ray, DE T.J. Smith.
Rookie tackle Jaden Crumedy, dealing with a high ankle sprain, is at risk of being released here. He'd be a quick add to the practice squad if he gets through waivers. Brown, given a big contract extension during the offseason, is the anchor of this group that overall is deeper than a year ago. Robinson is a big reason why, since he's good enough to keep teams from easily putting an extra body on Brown.
LINEBACKERS (9): OLB Jadeveon Clowney, OLB DJ Johnson, OLB K'Lavon Chaisson, OLB Eku Leota, ILB Shaq Thompson, ILB Josey Jewell, ILB Trevin Wallace, ILB Claudin Cherelus; ILB Tae Davis.
Outside linebacker is the thinnest -- and possibly weakest -- position on the team with the uncertainty of when D.J. Wonnum and Amare Barno (knee) will return from injury. Both are candidates to begin the season on the PUP list, opening at least one other spot. Wonnum is the big loss because he was signed to start opposite Clowney. Johnson, decent at setting the edge but not an effective pass rusher, is there by default. Carolina feels so good about the depth inside that it sent seventh-round pick Michael Barrett to Seattle for cornerback Michael Jackson.
CORNERBACKS (5): Jaycee Horn, Michael Jackson, D'Shawn Jamison, Troy Hill, Chau Smith-Wade
The Panthers didn't have the cap space to sign veteran Stephon Gilmore, and Dane Jackson should open the season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury after being slated to start opposite Horn. So they traded with the Seahawks for Jackson, who started 21 games the past two seasons and 17 in 2022. So it's essential that injury-plagued Horn stays healthy and that somebody steps up to replace Jackson. There's still a chance Morgan will add another player here after cuts via the waiver wire or trade.
SAFETIES (4): Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott, Alex Cook
The loss of Sam Franklin (broken foot) early in camp was a blow, particularly to special teams, but there is enough depth here to survive. Woods and Fuller will start, and Scott brings experience in defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero's 3-4 scheme. Jammie Robinson will be the toughest call here, but Cook has played well enough to earn the spot. Franklin should be on injured reserve.
SPECIALISTS (3): P Johnny Hekker, PK Eddy Pineiro, LS JJ Jansen
As experienced and productive as any group on the roster. Pineiro, who ranks third in career NFL success rate (89%) for kickers, ended the kicking competition early. He won't get the raise he was holding out for during voluntary workouts because the cap space isn't there. So it's a big s season for him.