It is the most tenious week of training camp as preseason comes to a close for the Carolina Panthers on Friday night against the Houston Texans. This game, along with joint practice on Wednesday, provides players with the final opportunity to make their case to make the 53-man roster.
General manager Dan Morgan will have tough choices when roster cutdowns begin. Quality performances from roster bubble players have made things more difficult than in years past, a testament to how far the Panthers' talent has come.
As the preseason wraps up this weekend, it is the perfect time to share the latest installment of roster projections. This was a tough one to narrow down, and some good players could be on the waiver wire as a result.
Here's how the 53-man roster could pan out after the preseason.
Please note: Offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (patellar tendon) and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (neck) are likely candidates to start the season on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) and won't count toward the 53-man roster.
Carolina Panthers 53-man roster prediction ahead of preseason finale
Carolina Panthers offensive roster
Quarterback (3): Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett, Haynes King
Running Back (3): Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks, Trevor Etienne
Wide Receiver (6): Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, Brycen Tremayne, Jimmy Horn Jr., John Metchie III
Tight End (4): Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, Darren Waller, Feleipe Franks
Offensive Line (9): Rasheed Walker, Monroe Freeling, Taylor Moton, Damien Lewis, Robert Hunt, Luke Fortner, Sam Hecht, Brady Christensen, Jake Curhan, Albert Reese IV
Just who will go through at wide receiver is the big talking point. Competition for places has been fierce over the summer, and the Panthers don't have room for everybody. But given their performance levels over Carolina's preseason slate, Jimmy Horn Jr. and John Metchie III are chosen to go alongside the roster locks.
The Panthers seem to like Trevor Etienne's third-down ability as a receiver with special-teams abilities, but A.J. Dillon continues to make a hard charge. I could see four running backs on the roster. Haynes King's performance in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game should make an impact despite his hamstring injury.
With Darren Waller now in play at tight end, Ja'Tavion Sanders' days are numbered, and the team loves Feleipe Franks on the third unit while Mitchell Evans and Tommy Tremble provide all-around ability.
Albert Reese IV has had an interesting preseason, but he worked hard to prove himself and develop as offensive tackle depth.
Practice squad candidates: Ja'Seem Reed, wide receiver; AJ Dillon, running back; Stone Forsythe, offensive tackle; Chandler Zavala, guard; Nick Samac, center
Carolina Panthers defensive roster
Defensive Line (5): Derrick Brown, Lee Hunter, Bobby Brown III, Cam Jackson, Aaron Hall
Outside Linebacker (5): Jaelen Phillips, Princely Umanmielen, Patrick Jones II, Trevis Gipson, Cam Gill
Inside Linebacker (5): Devin Lloyd, Trevin Wallace, Claudin Cherelus, Jackson Kuwatch, TBD
Defensive Back (10): Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson Sr., Tre'von Moehrig, Nick Scott, Corey Thornton, Will Lee III, Chau Smith-Wade, Lathan Ransom, Zakee Wheatley, Isaiah Simmons
This time next week, we could be looking at the Panthers with a brand-new linebacker to slot next to Devin Lloyd. Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus have done little to separate. Who that might be is open for discussion.
Aaron Hall is yet another undrafted free agent gem for Morgan, though he may not be active for a handful of games. Cam Gill is undersized but is a terrific pass rusher and special teams ace, though it comes down to him and Thomas Incoom for that final outside linebacker spot. Trevis Gipson could be a quality rotational figure with inside-out versatility.
I'm on the fence for the final cornerback spot between Chau Smith-Wade, Corey Thornton, and Akayleb Evans. The latter offers special-teams abilities and hasn't been terrible this preseason, while Smith-Wade and Thornton have had mixed results as a position group that could go either way.
Isaiah Simmons has continued to be a great special-teams player, but that's as far as I see his role in Carolina.
Practice Squad candidates: Jared Harrison-Hunte, defensive tackle; Thomas Incoom, outside linebacker; Bam Martin-Scott, linebacker; Akayleb Evans, cornerback; DeVonta Smith, cornerback; Demani Richardson, safety
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