5 Carolina Panthers players with big shoes to fill in 2022
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers players have some big shoes to fill during the 2022 season?
The growing sense of disenchantment between the Carolina Panthers and its fanbase can be attributed to two things.
A lack of winning football over the last few years.
And legendary figures moving on or retiring since the glory days of the mid-2010s that almost came with the team’s first-ever Super Bowl triumph.
It’s up to the next generation of Panthers players to stamp their mark on the franchise next season and beyond. The task awaiting them is steep, but there are some encouraging signs after a strong offseason period of recruitment during free agency, the draft, and via the trade market.
With this in mind, here are five Panthers players with some big shoes to fill in 2022.
Player No. 1
Damien Wilson – Carolina Panthers LB
- Shoes to fill – Luke Kuechly
The Carolina Panthers have yet to fill the gaping void at middle linebacker left by Luke Kuechly following his shock retirement after the 2019 campaign. Tahir Whitehead and Jermaine Carter both failed to meet expectations, which has seen the organization turn to Damien Wilson as their next potential successor.
Wilson went over 100 tackles for the first time in 2021 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. But there were some inconsistencies, especially when it came to covering effectively in obvious passing situations.
Couple this with a concerning offseason arrest, and it remains to be seen whether Wilson can make the most out of his time in Carolina.