Cat Scratch Reader
With the last preseason game of the season comes the last chance for every player sitting on their roster bubble to strain and fight for a spot on a 53-man roster, be it the Carolina Panthers or any of the other 31 teams in the NFL. With Dave Canales announcing that most starters will not be playing against the Steelers on Thursday, the spotlight is now directed at the back end of the roster. For many, it’s a now or never after a lackluster showing versus the Houston Texans last week. With this week’s edition of players to watch, it’s time to direct everyone’s attention to the players with the most on the line and the best opportunity to make a final push to be on the roster come the Panthers first game of the regular season.
With Jaycee Horn not participating during the preseason games after a car accident caused a thumb injury, the Panthers have been rotating starters opposite Mike Jackson this preseason. Last week, Bartholomew received the starting nod after Corey Thornton started the first outing against the Cleveland Browns. Having joined the team as a waiver claim after the initial 53-man roster cutdown last season, Bartholomew has spent almost a full year with the team just waiting for opportunities to play. Now is his time. It’s time to find out if he can make the most of the last opportunity to hold off Thornton, a UDFA rookie who has become somewhat of a sensation this training camp.
Once thought of as a back-of-the-roster camp body, Tremayne has steadily made a name for himself during training camp. Not only has the big-bodied receiver made plays against his Panthers teammates, but he’s taken every advantage of the joint practices and preseason games against other rosters to stand out. Even still, Tremayne faces an uphill battle against the likes of Hunter Renfrow, Jalen Coker, David Moore and Jimmy Horn Jr for the last 2 or 3 roster spots from the receivers room. Another productive outing at receiver and on special teams (Tremayne’s 9 snaps on special teams versus the Texans was the most of any offensive player) and the Panthers might be forced to push the limits of their roster to keep Tremayne on the squad.
The Panthers outside linebacker room has been a fixation of theirs this offseason, with a number of high profile moves being made to revamp the struggling unit. Releasing Jadeveon Clowney, signing Patrick Jones and then trading up twice on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft for a couple more players at the position would indicate the Panthers are ready and willing to turn over the position. Cue Thomas Incoom, a practice squad player who has turned some heads in training camp and has seemingly applied plenty of pressure on incumbent back-up and former 3rd round selection DJ Johnson. While...
