5 Panthers players tumbling down depth chart during the preseason

Denzel Perryman – Carolina Panthers LB

This might be a little harsh on Denzel Perryman, who has yet to play a preseason down due to injury and the Carolina Panthers leaving their veterans out of the firing line for the first two games. But the free-agent signing from the Los Angeles Chargers might not be the focal point many envisaged when he joined the organization.

Perryman was looking to cement his status as a starting option at middle linebacker. However, the rise to prominence of Jermaine Carter over the second half of last season has seen him take the majority of first-team reps – a responsibility the former fifth-round pick is clearly relishing.

Not only this, but with the likes of Frankie Luvu starring as a rotational presence on the outside, Perryman has his work cut out in pursuit of making a significant impression next season.

That’s not to say the Miami product isn’t more than capable of this.

The talent is there where Perryman is concerned, it’s remaining reliable from a health standpoint which has become the biggest complication throughout his career.

Perryman will make the team and still be a key part of the rotation, one suspects. But the player has much work to do in the next two weeks and especially whatever time he’s on the field during Carolina’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Bank of America Stadium.