Carolina Panthers: Potential captains for 2019
Who will be named captains for the 2019 Carolina Panthers?
Each year since taking over in 2011, Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera has allowed his team the opportunity to select a permanent group of captains from within the locker room. The NFL allocates up to six team members can be given this distinction and coachers are awarded the flexibility for how to bestow the honor.
Some teams alternate captains weekly, others keep a consistent group with one or two changing but Rivera has traditionally maintained the same group throughout the duration of the season – barring any injuries.
Veteran linebacker Thomas Davis wasn’t initially selected as a captain last year but earned the designation after starting tight end Greg Olsen was injured. The two have been long-time captains but Davis wasn’t re-signed during the offseason. His departure, coupled with the retirements of Ryan Kalil and Julius Peppers, open the door for some new faces to be granted an opportunity at having the “C” stitched across their jersey’s this season.
A few familiar names are also anticipated, including a few who have served in the role for multiple seasons. Franchise quarterback Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly should each begin a seventh consecutive year with Olsen beginning his sixth.
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These three, in addition to Colin Jones – who was the second special teams captain picked in the Rivera era – should make up four of the allowed six different positions. While Carolina may opt to only designate these long-time players, it is likely the full six-person allotment will be filled. If so, it is probable that a defensive lineman or secondary player joins Kuechly on that side of the football.
Newcomer Gerald McCoy is a candidate, having served as a captain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for multiple seasons prior to last year. Eric Reid also has to be involved in the conversation after joining the Panthers a few weeks into 2018 before being re-signed to a three-year contract during the offseason. On offense, new center Matt Paradis, who also served as a captain on his former team (Denver Broncos), is a solid bet to be named a captain.
Next. Preseason Battles to Watch. dark
An official announcement won’t come until a few days before the first regular season game but right now it appears Newton, Olsen, Paradis, Kuechly, McCoy and Jones are the current front-runners.