5 Panthers roster hopefuls who could get cut for waiver wire pickups
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers players might be on the chopping block even if they make the 53-man roster when the team scours the waiver wire?
This is a nervous time of year for players across the league waiting for their roster fate. They cannot do any more to convince the primary decision-makers, so it’s just a case of being patient and waiting for the confirmation call either way.
The Carolina Panthers already stand at 71 players after letting seven leave following their preseason finale victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. This included kicker Joey Slye, who endured a difficult time on Friday in what ended up being his final appearance for the organization.
There is also another factor to consider. Seemingly every year a player celebrates earning a roster spot, only to get cut a few short hours later to make way for someone off the waiver wire who could potentially provide immediate assistance.
Considering how general manager Scott Fitterer approached recruitment this offseason, it’s almost guaranteed someone else will be coming on board that wasn’t around during training camp.
With this in mind, here are five potential Panthers roster candidates that could be in the firing line in this particular scenario.
Player No. 1
Sam Tecklenburg – Carolina Panthers C
The Panthers have a big call to make regarding Sam Tecklenburg. His production has been largely encouraging in preseason games, so they might decide to take him onto the 53-man roster as a primary backup for veteran center Matt Paradis in 2021.
However, that could change if something better comes along on an offensive line that remains a serious concern. If a player is waived from elsewhere who could become a rotational piece or even start, then Tecklenburg could be cut and lead to Pat Elflein becoming the No. 2 if the worst happens with Paradis.
Elflein started his NFL career at center with the Minnesota Vikings before moving to guard when they drafted Garrett Bradbury. This versatility could play a leading role in Carolina’s decision-making process when it comes to additional reinforcements.