4 under-the-radar Panthers who need to perform against the Raiders

Michael Schofield – OL

There appears to be some doubt that Dennis Daley will be ready to go in Week 1. The second-year-pro was slotted to start at the guard position opposite John Miller. But if he cannot get over an injury problem then the experienced Michael Schofield will step in and fill the void.

Schofield was a late arrival in free agency after performing well for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2019. He was a solid if not spectacular performer during training camp. But this failed to enough to convince the coaching staff that he was worth putting in the starting unit more prominently over Daley.

The 2019 sixth-round pick was a non-participant in practice on Thursday, which leaves Daley’s availability in serious question. Schofield is experienced enough to slot in right away and he faces a huge task on his hands trying to cope with the likes of Johnathan Hankins and Maliek Collins on the interior.

How well the offensive line protects quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will go a long way to determining whether or not the Carolina Panthers can take any sort of success from the 2020 season. If Daley is forced to sit out, then this represents a tremendous opportunity to make his presence felt and perhaps make a starting berth his own going forward.

Schofield gave up just one sack and one penalty from 1,057 snaps in 2019. This sort of consistency and discipline will be key for the Panthers in Daley’s potential absence.