Week 4 stock-watch from Carolina Panthers 2020 training camp

Carolina Panthers camp stock-watch: Jermaine Carter – LB (DOWN)

There was a real opportunity for Jermaine Carter with the Carolina Panthers next season. He was a prime candidate to fill the starting outside linebacker position opposite Shaq Thompson. But things might not be as clear-cut as first hoped for the player if the last week is any indication.

The Panthers are exploring the prospect of using second-round pick Jeremy Chinn as their second outside linebacker thanks to his exceptional versatility and athleticism. This would be nothing short of a disaster for Carter, who is hungry for more game time that could now be in danger of getting away from him.

Chinn has plenty of upside at the second level. He is big enough to cope with tight ends in coverage and has no problem getting to the point of attack. Carter does not have that much experience on the field compared to most starters at the position. And the past few days will have been concerning for the player, to put it mildly.

Carter is a lock to make the 53-man roster. But this is not going to be enough for him at this stage of his career. The former Maryland standout showed glimpses of promise in 2019 during a difficult campaign overall for the Panthers’ defense, and having no preseason games for Chinn to showcase what he can do in a competitive environment is another thing the third-year pro has in his favor.