4 Carolina Panthers players that went missing during 2022 season
By Dean Jones
Sean Chandler – Carolina Panthers S
After underwhelming during his first season with the Carolina Panthers, the return of Sean Chandler was surprising. Perhaps his previous connection to Matt Rhule from their time together in college helped, but the safety impressed enough to get himself on the 53-man roster when most thought those in power would go in a different direction.
Making the team was one thing, but Chandler received relatively few reps on the defensive rotation in 2022. This was a damning indictment regarding the lack of trust in the former Temple stud, who was seen more on the special teams’ side than anything else.
Much like the situation with Juston Burris, this season is likely to be Chandler’s last in Carolina. No longer does the veteran have Rhule or Phil Snow vouching for him, so a new regime will have its own ideas about how to improve the backend.
Steve Wilks did work with Chandler as defensive backs coach before his promotion in the immediate aftermath of Rhule’s firing. However, the interim didn’t exactly improve the player’s time in the lineup despite having more power than ever before.
What comes next for Chandler in free agency remains to be seen. He might get another shot at a potential roster spot somewhere, but that shouldn’t be with the Panthers based on his full body of work.