Carolina Panthers fans were more than a little skeptical when head coach Dave Canales confirmed that Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus were competing for the No. 2 linebacker spot next to Devin Lloyd this summer.
Now, the Panthers have officially called time on this costly experiment.
Wallace didn't make the team and was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets. Cherelus got a reprieve initially, but after an injury problem surfaced, the Panthers have now disposed of him as well.
Carolina Panthers move on from failed linebacker experiment by waiving Claudin Cherelus
The Panthers confirmed they had waived Cherelus with an injury settlement. He could still return a little later in the season, but it seems unlikely.
And with that, his big chance in Carolina has fallen by the wayside.
Cherelus was seen as a special-teams ace more than anything else. Canales decided that putting him in legitimate competition with Wallace could bring out more in both players, but the results weren't great.
Both struggled to maximize their opportunities. Fortunately for the Panthers, general manager Dan Morgan had a fallback option ready.
Just before final cuts, the Panthers signed Bobby Okereke. He's experienced and has played well during his early transition, especially given how late he joined the club. Tyrel Dodson was also acquired before the campaign, giving their defensive second level a much-needed depth boost.
This hasn't worked out too well for Cherelus or Wallace. But the Panthers were in no position to wait around.
Claudin Cherelus and Trevin Wallace both failed their big Carolina Panthers audition
And they were right to make the changes needed.
Okereke and Lloyd look like a formidable tandem when healthy. Dodson was solid enough in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns, and the Panthers also have seventh-round rookie Jackson Kuwatch on the books.
Cherelus and Wallace are no longer part of the team's plans. But if they had done enough in the summer, the Panthers wouldn't have needed to take such drastic action.
It's that simple, really.
Perhaps the Panthers will give Cherelus another shot at some stage. He was liked in the building, and he does have special-teams value. But in terms of featuring on defense, those days should now be gone.
Morgen deserves credit for recognizing the situation and reacting accordingly. It's been years since Carolina's had any sort of stability at linebacker. Now, they have it, and though the injury problems elsewhere aren't helpful, their second level should be secure.
What the future holds for Cherelus is unclear.
Getting healthy will be his biggest obstacle. Right now, all the player can do is focus on his recovery. Everything after that is out of his hands, and he'll be hoping to get another opportunity to catch on in Carolina or elsewhere when the time is right.
This experiment was a major whiff by the Panthers. But the most important thing was the fact that Morgan and Canales realized it just in time.
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