Four Panthers players with most to gain from final preseason game against Bills
Friday’s final preseason game against the Buffalo Bills marks the last chance for players on the Carolina Panthers roster to show that they deserve a spot on the team’s 53-man roster.
The Panthers face Buffalo inside Bank of America Stadium Friday at 7 p.m.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule said he’d like to play quarterback Baker Mayfield and the first-team offense the entire first quarter and into the second. After that, Sam Darnold will likely finish the half before PJ Walker handles quarters three and four.
Because Carolina must trim its roster from 80 to 53 by Tuesday, many players will use Friday as their final audition to either remain with the Panthers or be signed elsewhere.
Of course, anyone who plays during the first quarter has no chance of being cut. Instead, Mayfield and the Panthers offense must first demonstrate competency, then explosiveness, to consider Friday a success.
Mayfield hasn’t played since Week 1 of the preseason. He handled just one series against Washington, converting three first downs. His drive ended with a 41-yard Zane Gonzalez field goal.
Panthers fans want to see Mayfield led a few touchdown drives playing against what has already been announced as most of the Bills backups and reserves.
Starters aside, here’s a look at four players with a lot on the line Friday.
WR Brandon Zylstra
The Panthers have difficult discussions looming at wide receiver. Newcomers Rashard Higgins and Andre Roberts seem like locks to make the final 53-man roster. Rhule declared second-year receiver Shi Smith one of the team’s top playmakers. DJ Moore, Higgins and Terrace Marshall will all make the team. That’s already five receivers. Teams usually only keep about seven.
Even though he has had an inconsistent camp, the team likes Zylstra, who is also a key special teams contributor.
Keith Kirkwood, Zylstra, C.J. Saunders and Derek Wright all have had their training camp moments, but none are a lock to make the team.
CB Tae Hayes
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Tae Hayes keeps making plays. He was signed early in training camp as a depth precaution as Jaycee Horn, C.J Henderson and Keith Taylor were all battling nagging injuries.
Since then, he has proven reliable. Hayes had an interception against New England, scoring the Panthers’ lone touchdown in a 20-10 loss. He picked off quarterback Bailey Zappe and returned it 50 yards for a TD. Hayes sat on a hitch route and easily intercepted the late throw.
Plays like that are putting Hayes on Rhule’s radar. The team is deep at cornerback. Hayes making a play Friday could determine whether he makes the team. He is competing for a roster spot with fellow defensive back Kalon Barnes, Sean Chandler, Sam Franklin Jr., Juston Burris, and safeties.
T Dennis Daley
Sometimes I think the Panthers have a deep offensive line. Then I remember the pressure rookie Matt Corral and veteran Walker endured against the Patriots with their backup depth on the field. When Corral suffered his season-ending Lisfranc injury, Daley, Mike Horton, rookie Cade Mays, Deonte Brown and Austen Pleasants (from left to right) were in protection.
Pleasants was cut on Monday.
Brown remains a likely cut. Mays is safe due to his sixth-round draft statues and five-position flexibility. Horton and Daley are competing for roster spots, likely outside Carolina.
WR C.J. Saunders
On Monday, C.J Saunders returned from a calf injury that kept him out several weeks. Saunders might clear waivers, but he was consistently taking first-team reps before his injury. He and Smith have dominated the slot reps all throughout training camp.
Which leaves Friday as his final audition to make the team. Rhule speaks highly of Saunders, who likely has a place on the practice squad if he does not make the team.
