5 under-the-radar Panthers players who must step up at the Falcons

Sean Chandler – Carolina Panthers S

There is a chance the Carolina Panthers could get Juston Burris back in the lineup this weekend. The safety has been missed more than anybody imagined and it will be a big-time boost for the backend if the former North Carolina State star is ready to resume his partnership with Jeremy Chinn.

Even if Burris does return, it’s hard to envisage a situation where he’s on the field for every snap. This means Sean Chandler needs to be ready at a moment’s notice against a formidable Atlanta Falcons passing attack.

Kyle Pitts, Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, and Hayden Hurst all make their presence felt across the middle and in the red zone. Chandler has been on the field for 100 percent of the team’s defensive snaps over the last two weeks and boasts a 61.7 grade from Pro Football Focus this season, which indicates there is room for improvement.

Chandler emerged quickly as a training camp stud that earned his place on the rotation. One could argue he’s performed much better than Sam Franklin – especially in coverage – but there are some limitations regarding his talent.

Hopefully, the Panthers can pick things up and give their defense some extra time off the field in Week 8. Things won’t end well for this talented group if Atlanta gets an opportunity to dictate the time of possession.