5 burning questions facing the Carolina Panthers secondary in 2021
By Dean Jones
Can Juston Burris get back to his early 2020 form?
Juston Burris could have been forgiven for nervously awaiting a phone call from the Carolina Panthers this offseason. The safety finished the 2020 season poorly after a promising start, so his status was well and truly up in the air this spring.
Fortunately for the North Carolina State product, the Panthers opted to give him a reprieve and release Tre Boston instead. It’s clear one or even both had to go, so Burris has much work to do in the coming months heading into the final year of his deal.
Carolina’s coaching staff is banking on two things where Burris is concerned.
That he can return to his early 2020 form now fully healed from injury.
And the presence of Jeremy Chinn alongside Burris taking the player’s game to new heights.
Whether these things happen or not is still in question. But if Burris doesn’t impose himself over the first couple of games, then the Panthers won’t hesitate to make a change and slot Sam Franklin, Myles Hartsfield, or Sean Chandler into the lineup instead.
If there was one weak link in the secondary – at least on paper – then Burris is the guy. Opposing offenses would be wise to target the free-agent signing from the Cleveland Browns heavily to see how he copes and especially with so much uncertainty surrounding his future.
Coping well with this pressure is going to be absolutely crucial for Burris and the Panthers.