5 Panthers players on the bubble who need big games tonight to make the 53-man roster
The final preseason game is always the most important. It’s the last chance for close roster spots to be decided.
When the Panthers have to trim their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. Tuesday, it’ll be a collaborative effort between the coaching staff and the front office.
But for Matt Rhule, it’s one of the parts of the job he likes the least.
“When you’re talking about a player’s career, I think about it a lot and Scott (Fitterer) thinks about it a lot,” Rhule said earlier this week.
Friday’s final preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers will be vital for players on the fringe of making the roster. Battles at positions like receiver, long snapper, kicker and backup quarterback have been close and will likely come down to this game.
We know about Joey Slye and the kicker battle. But here are some more players who could help (or hurt) their status Friday:
Giovanni Ricci
Ricci spent the 2020 season on the Panthers’ practice squad after competing for the backup tight end job. He began training camp this year as a tight end but in recent weeks has converted to a fullback.
Ricci didn’t have much of a chance to make the roster as a tight end, one of the Panthers’ deepest position groups. But fullback gives him an opening.
Fullback has been one of the Panthers’ positions of need this offseason after Alex Armah left in free agency. Rhule said Ricci, who changed his number from 87 to 40, is someone that has stood out to the coaching staff on special teams.
“I think he’ll get a lot of opportunities to play (in the game). I think putting him in 40 was good for everyone’s psyche to see, like, hey, this guy can do it,” Rhule said. “He’s a valuable special teams player right now. He’s making like big plays on special teams. There’s a place for him on his roster if he continues to do that.”
Omar Bayless
Bayless initially impressed the Panthers’ coaching staff as an undrafted rookie last offseason until an injury in training camp sidelined him for the entire 2020 season. He came back healthy this year, and made some nice catches in camp, but he is in the middle of a deep wide receiver battle.
The Panthers kept six wide receivers in 2020 and will likely do the same here. Robby Anderson, DJ Moore, Terrace Marshall Jr. and David Moore are locks for the roster.
Brandon Zylstra was a key special teams player and backup receiver in 2020 and likely holds an edge. And the Panthers used a sixth-round pick on Shi Smith out of South Carolina, and he can return kicks.
Bayless has talent. But being one-dimensional may hurt him.
He had one catch for seven yards against the Colts in the first preseason game. On one play, Tommy Tremble stepped in front of a potential touchdown pass intended for Bayless.
He was targeted twice in the second preseason game against the Ravens but did not have a catch.
C.J. Saunders
Saunders is another wide receiver stuck in a deep position battle.
Midway through training camp, Rhule said Saunders was one of the biggest standouts. He’s caught almost everything that has come his way and has practiced as a punt returner.
“He’s a football player,” Rhule said earlier this month of Saunders, who went undrafted out of Ohio State. “He dropped one though on third down, which was unlike him, but (tight end) Colin Thompson makes a catch to the back of the end zone, that’s one of things we’re trying to express to our team is, it’s not always where you were drafted, or how many plays you caught in college.
“It’s about who comes out here and competes and make plays.”
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound receive hasn’t made any catches this preseason. He has only one punt return for six yards. He’ll have one last opportunity to impress his coaches.
Christian Miller
Miller had two sacks in seven games during his rookie season in 2019, but he missed the entire 2020 season after opting out because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Though he didn’t have any sacks last week, Miller played well against the Ravens, which will likely help his case as he tries to make the roster. He had three tackles, and a quarterback hit.
What also could help him is his versatility as a linebacker and edge rusher.
Marquis Haynes is dealing with a shoulder injury and the Panthers may want to have further depth at defensive end.
Will Grier
Grier, a former third-round pick, hasn’t had much of a chance to prove himself in games. He didn’t play a single snap in 2020 because there was no preseason and he was third string behind Teddy Bridgewater and P.J. Walker.
The preseason this year has been his opportunity to do so.
But Grier hasn’t done much to overtake Walker for the No. 2 spot.
Both players have played similarly in the preseason. Walker shined in the first preseason game against the Colts. And Grier played well against the Ravens, completing 11 of 14 passes for 144 yards in two quarters.
Walker played for Rhule at Temple, so there is a familiarity there. It likely played a factor in him getting one start last year when Teddy Bridgewater missed the Lions game with a knee injury.
Grier needed a big camp to pass Walker, and it’s unclear whether the Panthers will keep two or three quarterbacks.
If they keep two, Friday’s game will be Grier’s final one to prove it should be him on the roster with Sam Darnold.
Steelers vs. Panthers
▪ TV: WSOC
▪ Time: 7 p.m.
▪ Radio: WBT 1110 AM
▪ Where: Bank of America Stadium
This story was originally published August 27, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
