Donte Jackson will face a major test on Friday
The rookie will get the start for the Carolina Panthers…
It is time for rookie Donte Jackson to show what he is made of. The LSU product will get the start in the Carolina Panthers second preseason game on Friday against the Miami Dolphins per multiple media reports.
Jackson had two tackles in last week’s win over the Buffalo Bills.
More from Cat Crave
- Ranking the top-five QB prospects the Panthers could draft in 2023
- 4 remaining Carolina Panthers cap crunches after Damien Wilson release
- Could Duce Staley help Carolina Panthers land Jamaal Williams in 2023?
- How much could the Carolina Panthers afford to offer Lamar Jackson?
- 4 Panthers rumors to emerge from 2023 NFL Scouting Combine
Currently, Jackson is the No. 2 right cornerback behind Kevon Seymour per the most recent depth chart from OurLads.com. Seymour had a rough week last week, getting burned on several occasions and looking sloppy overall.
We have seen how confident Jackson is when he is on the football field. The swagger has reminded many of Josh Norman who was a key contributor during his time here. It’s a good thing to have some swagger out on the football field. Come to think of it, it almost seems like a perquisite for a cornerback. The Carolina Panthers have been missing that edge in the secondary ever since the departure of Norman, but they may have found it in Jackson.
Even though this is only a preseason game, this is a bold move by head coach Ron Rivera. For one, it sends a message to Seymour that he has some competition at the position. Especially if Jackson performs well, that could put Seymour on notice. Secondly, Rivera is showing that he has a ton of confidence in Jackson. Instead of having him work his way up the ladder, Rivera is throwing him right into the fire. Although a bold move, it is necessary to see what Jackson can do. Especially with the shape the secondary is in right now, he could play a major factor in this season.
Although expectations are high for Jackson, we should temper them a bit, seeing as how he is only a rookie. He may make some mistakes on Friday, but that is what the preseason is for. My guess is that he will see a lot of Jakeem Grant and that will be a nice test to see how Jackson can play.
Next. Reasons to watch on Friday. dark
The future may be here right now. Jackson is another draft pick in the class that was not selected to stash away for years to come. Marty Hurney and the organization probably felt he could make an impact right now, and he will have the opportunity to do that on Friday .In what is a crucial game for many, this is especially a crucial game for Jackson. Here’s to hoping he makes the most of this opportunity.