The Carolina Panthers have been holding a genuine competition for the LB2 spot opposite free-agent signing Devin Lloyd. Head coach Dave Canales stated this week that it was still too close to call, but someone may have finally separated themselves during the team's preseason finale against the Houston Texans.
Trevin Wallace came up with a strong performance at the best possible time. The 2024 third-round pick has been the subject of criticism over the first two years of his professional career, and the lack of growth earlier this summer provoked the Panthers to challenge his spot with Claudin Cherelus.
His final warm-up outing has provoked a positive response.
Trevin Wallace may have seized the upper hand in Panthers' LB2 competition
But nothing is set in stone just yet.
This was a positive step in the right direction for Wallace. There was urgency to his overall play, and the former Kentucky standout made his tackles count. It's not perfect just yet, but any encouraging signs would have been something.
In that sense, it was mission accomplished.
Wallace successfully achieved this objective. But the fact that he was even dressed for the preseason finale hints at uncertainty regarding his role.
The Panthers don't have enough depth to remove Wallace from the equation. He will make the team, but whether that'll be as a backup or starter is the big question nobody knows the answer to right now.
This performance will have improved his chances. But general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales will be examining his overall body of work before making their decision.
Trevin Wallace faces an anxious wait, but he left a positive final impression
Wallace might have the upper hand right now. Cherelus will stay on the team for special-teams purposes. However, if Morgan believes more is required, he won't hesitate to find outside help if the right opportunity presents itself.
There is nothing more Wallace can do now. Preseason and training camp are done. The decisions being made in the front office are outside his control, but at least he left an eye-catching final mark to potentially raise confidence in his chances.
Lloyd will be the tone-setter in the middle of Ejiro Evero's 3-4 base front. He earned second-team All-Pro honors last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he also needs a strong supporting cast.
There are concerns around Wallace, and rightfully so. But perhaps being involved in a legitimate battle for a starting job late in the summer will be the key to unlocking greater focus.
Things should become clearer over the next few days before attention turns to Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Wallace outperformed Cherelus in their final audition. But just how much that means in the grand scheme of things has yet to be confirmed.
Fortunately for Panthers fans, there isn't too much longer to wait.
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