5 Panthers position battles that could be decided in preseason Week 2
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers TE2 and TE3
It would be smart for the Carolina Panthers to put some time in Dan Arnold’s direction during their final preseason game. The free-agent signing from the Arizona Cardinals continues to impress during drills, so if he can enhance a potentially profitable partnership with Sam Darnold during his time on the field, the better his chances will be of becoming the team’s long term option at the tight end position.
What comes behind Arnold is less certain. But it should be figured out once their game against the Baltimore Ravens comes to a conclusion.
There appear to be three players in the running for two positions. And there is little chance of Carolina cutting ties with Tommy Tremble given they drafted him in the third round and his elite blocking potential.
That leaves Ian Thomas and Colin Thompson fighting it out.
Thomas failed to capitalize on a tremendous opportunity to be Greg Olsen’s successor in 2020. Even though he’s bounced back to a certain extent this offseason, his time on the Panthers is hanging by a thread.
Carolina likes Thompson as a potential contributor. He does a lot of things well without excelling in any particular category, so this is a battle to monitor extremely closely during preseason Week 2.