4 Panthers that can play themselves onto the roster in 2022 preseason
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers could play themselves onto the 53-man roster with high-performance levels throughout the 2022 preseason schedule?
The Carolina Panthers are planning to give some established figures time on the field for their preseason opener at the Washington Commanders on Saturday. This is also a good chance for those lower down the depth chart to stake a strong claim.
A final audition before those in power gets ready to trim the roster.
It was an encouraging training camp overall despite a few players coming away with injuries. An increased sense of urgency and seriousness became evident right out of the gate in Spartanburg, which should hopefully serve the Panthers well when it’s time to begin fighting for wins during the regular season.
For many, what comes next will be far more important. Showing out in a gameday setting could make all the difference with plenty of places further down the pecking order up for grabs.
With this in mind, here are four Panthers players that can play themselves onto the 53-man roster during the 2022 preseason.
Player No. 1
Marquan McCall – Carolina Panthers DT
The Carolina Panthers are extremely thin on reliable options on their defensive front. There’s a high chance general manager Scott Fitterer will add to this group before the campaign, but it could also represent an opportunity for someone like Marquan McCall to make an impression.
McCall was scooped up as an undrafted free agent and could offer something a little different thanks to his impressive run-stopping technique. An area where the Panthers struggled on occasions down the stretch as bodies began to tire.
Watching how McCall gets on against NFL opposition will give the coaching staff a broader perspective of what the player might bring. And there could be a spot open at one of the thinnest positional groups on the roster currently.