Loser No. 2
Rasheed Walker - Carolina Panthers OT
When the Carolina Panthers signed left tackle Rasheed Walker to a team-friendly contract in free agency, most fans and experts thought general manager Dan Morgan got himself another steal.
Seven games into the campaign, Walker has been anything but.
The veteran left tackle is a complete liability. The Green Bay Packers didn't bring him back this offseason, and it's now clear why. They also knew how to exploit his weaknesses, attacking the blindside constantly as Walker floundered.
This was another abject failure from Walker. He was overwhelmed by power rushers and didn't look comfortable at any stage. The Panthers' options are thin on the ground, but it might be time to think about benching the Penn State product before he gets quarterback Bryce Young seriously hurt.
Ikem Ekwonu is still out. The next best option is Stone Forsythe, which isn't saying much. But honestly, it's not like he could be much worse right now.
Winner No. 2
Zakee Wheatley - Carolina Panthers S
The Panthers' defense performed pretty well overall. They held their own and tried to keep Carolina in the game, but the offensive frailties were simply too much to overcome in the end.
Even so, a few positives stood out from the clash. One of those was rookie safety Zakee Wheatley, who continues to grow into a more important role within Ejiro Evero's schematic concepts.
Wheatley is starting to look like a legitimate fifth-round draft steal. The Panthers had the conviction to trade up for him, which looks like a tremendous piece of business so far. And though Carolina suffered another loss, he was one of the legitimate bright spots again.
The former Penn State star looks like he belongs. Whetley is a high-effort player with sound positional sense, and Evero should increase his workload moving forward.
Loser No. 3
Princely Umanmielen - Carolina Panthers OLB
The Panthers were once again missing big-money edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. This gave Princely Umanmielen another chance to prove himself in a starting role, which the Ole Miss product believes he can fill effectively.
However, the growing sample size suggests otherwise.
Carolina got almost no pressure on Packers quarterback Jordan Love. Any duress was coming from the 3-4 front, not the edge. Considering the complications Green Bay's offensive line has gone through this season, it was a complete failure, and the 2025 third-round pick was among the biggest culprits.
There was no urgency. Umanmielen got lost in the prime-time lights and lacked the burst needed to make an impact. Love got a ridiculous amount of time in the pocket, and if he'd performed a little better, this could have been another 40-point mauling.
The sooner Phillips gets back, the better. Because it's evident Umanmielen is a rotational pass-rusher and nothing more.
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