Which Carolina Panthers news stories are hitting the headlines as game Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons is just a few short days away?
College football is officially underway and there was a quiet sense of satisfaction within large sections of the Carolina Panthers fanbase on Thursday evening. Of course, this was thanks to their former head coach, who oversaw a late collapse in keeping with the inept time management he demonstrated during his time at the helm in Charlotte.
For the Panthers' new regime, there is plenty going on that warrants attention. Among the stories generating column inches include Jeremy Chinn's adaptation, Brian Burns' absence, Scott Fitterer on the potential for further additions, and Matt Corral's life coming full circle.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Matt Corral gets claimed after Carolina Panthers exit
While general manager Scott Fitterer stated earlier on Friday that the plan was to bring quarterback Matt Corral onto the practice squad if he cleared waivers, one of the game's greatest-ever coaches had other ideas. The New England Patriots claimed the former third-round selection off the wire, which had more than a hint of irony attached.
It was Bill Belichick that made a trade with Carolina - getting their 2023 third-rounder and 2022 fourth - so they could shift up and take Corral out of Ole Miss. Now the Patriots have the player and the pick after the Panthers deemed him surplus to requirements.
In all honesty, this is the best possible outcome for Corral. He gets to learn under impressive minds such as Belichick and offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, which will do wonders for the signal-caller's overall development following a luckless start to his pro career.
Considering how much pressure is on Mac Jones to deliver the goods entering Year 3 of his professional career, there could be a chance for Corral to gain meaningful regular season reps depending on how things play out.
Jeremy Chinn lauded by Carolina Panthers teammate
Ejiro Evero's arrival has completely changed the defensive philosophy where the Carolina Panthers are concerned. This isn't a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination considering the young talent within the group.
Switching to a 3-4 base defense has come with some growing pains. But their impressive joint practice with the New York Jets was a clear indicator of how special this unit could be once everyone's on the field and if key figures manage to avoid the injury bug.
One of the most intriguing transitions centers on Jeremy Chinn. The former second-round pick is switching to a versatile big nickel with the potential to line up almost anywhere apart from the defensive front, something teammate Donte Jackson has full confidence in based on his comments via the team's website.
"We always knew that whatever this defense asks from him, he was going to be the guy to go get it done because he's one of those guys that, energy-wise, we all follow. He's just a dynamic player regardless. He's a see-ball, get-ball type of guy. And with those types of guys, you never really want to box him in and tell him to do this when this happens or do this when this happens. You kind of just want to let those type of guys just fly around and make plays, and that's what Chinn has always been, you know, dating back to when he first got here."Donte Jackson via Panthers.com
Chinn seems to be adjusting well to his new role and should be highly motivated in a contract year. The Southern Illinois product has been a tone-setter from the moment he arrived in Carolina and hopefully, this is a trend that can continue under Evero's exceptional guidance.
Carolina Panthers OLB Brian Burns' absence
Mystery surrounded edge rusher Brian Burns on Thursday, which drew fierce speculation from the fanbase across social media. The Carolina Panthers excused their former first-round pick from practice due to what was described as a personal matter, although beat reporters mentioned that he'd been seen around the facility before the session got underway.
Many thought this could potentially be down to Burns finally receiving a contract offer worthy of further examination on his behalf. When asked about this specifically, head coach Frank Reich gave a diplomatic response to the media in attendance via USA Today Sports.
"I’ll just refer that to Brian. It’s impossible for me to have more respect than I do for Brian. So, that’s his personal matters. And anyway, secondly, it’s a matter of policy. It’s not my role to talk about contracts—even if that’s what it was."Frank Reich via USA Today Sports
Burns is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and is more than deserving of the bumper contract that will eventually arrive. The Panthers were thought to be waiting until Nick Bosa resets the market with the San Francisco 49ers, which could be confirmed in the very near future to prevent his hold-out leading into a regular season game week that begins on Monday.
Carolina hasn't had such problems with Burns, who's been around teammates throughout the offseason. His absence from practice could have been for a multitude of reasons, but hopefully, this means some good news is on the horizon regarding an extended stay for one of the team's foundational pieces.
Scott Fitterer on Carolina Panthers roster growth
It's been a difficult few days for general manager Scott Fitterer during roster cuts and the subsequent releases that came following the team's decision to pick up three names off the waiver wire. Some outcomes were better received than others, but the front office figure continues to do what he feels is the best thing to get this franchise back among the contenders.
When discussing the process and how things stand currently, Fitterer seemed relatively happy with the roster growth based on his comments via Augusta Stone from the team's website. He also hinted that there could be even more comings and goings over the next few days before game Week 1 commences.
"We had mostly positive, a couple equals; there was one negative. But overall, I just thought like, 'You know what? We're making progress.' It's where we want to be. Every year, I say our goal is to win the NFC South. And I think, even with all the new faces, the new staff, and all the changes that are taking place, that's our goal. And I think if we play (to) our ability, that's definitely within reach. The roster is still going to be fluid here over the weekend. And hopefully it's pretty well set by Monday, going into a game week. But we'll take the next 72 hours or so to finish things."Scott Fitterer via Panthers.com
There are some obvious needs that the Panthers could address. The trenches on both sides of the football lack sufficient depth, with the cornerback options also thin on the ground after cutting Keith Taylor Jr., Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, and Eric Rowe.
It might be a holiday weekend for many. But that won't be the case for Fitterer and his staff.