Where does Tommylee Lewis fit with the Carolina Panthers?

Tommylee Lewis is a new arrival to the Carolina Panthers, but where doe the wide receiver fit at an already stacked position?

The countdown is well and truly on for the Carolina Panthers and their return to a competitive setting. We are now just 18 days away from their Week 1 opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, which will finally bring to an end an offseason that will not long be forgotten.

Not only have the Carolina Panthers gone through some incredible changes across the board under head coach Matt Rhule. But they were also forced to cope with so much disruption to their preparations.

This has left plenty of uncertainty heading into 2020. But overcoming so much adversity initially might actually stand them in good stead once they return to the field.

Expectations are lower than they have been for a while in Carolina, and that might be a good thing. Giving this new-look roster the freedom to express themselves without the pressure of mounting a postseason push might bring the best out of them. And it is hard to deny they have some outstanding offensive weapons to call upon if Teddy Bridgewater gets enough protection from his offensive line.

Continuing our countdown feature ahead of the new season, we now turn our attention to Carolina’s No. 18. Tommylee Lewis was a late addition to training camp for the Panthers recently. And he has plenty of work to do in order to make the 53-man roster.

It’s hard to put Tommylee Lewis anywhere on the Carolina Panthers.

This is an area of the field where Carolina is especially blessed. They have playmakers everywhere you look and the surprising production from the likes of Omar Bayless, Brandon Zylstra, and Pharoh Cooper at camp has only heightened expectations for this group.

Lewis is not coming into the organization blind, which will work in his favor. The wideout has worked with offensive coordinator Joe Brady and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater during their time together as part of the New Orleans Saints. So he should be able to hit the ground running in terms of knowing the scheme.

The receiver was the target during the infamous pass interference play during the Saints’ NFC Championship game with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018. He was part of the Detroit Lions’ roster last year without making an impression. But his second chance in New Orleans this spring eventually ended with a trip to the waiver wire.

Carolina was quick to pick up Lewis despite plenty of other strong options currently fighting for targets. Whether this time away from the game is going to have a detrimental impact on his chances with the Panthers remains to be seen. But it appears that the player is an outside shot to make the roster, at best.

Lewis has made the most out of his 5-foot-7 stature. His low center of gravity makes him an elusive target. But he has had trouble getting off press coverage during his time on the field in a professional environment.

Lewis boasts career stats of 20 receptions from 28 targets, 252 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. He is also been productive in the return game when given the opportunity. But the Panthers have plenty of useful alternatives to call upon from this perspective.

With all this in mind, it is hard to envisage a role for Lewis in 2020. He might do enough to impress the coaching staff in a short space of time at training camp. But it would be a huge shock if he was preferred over others who have also been showing out during team drills.