Why Panthers’ offensive line depth chart was limited in lame performance vs. Patriots
The Carolina Panthers started their preseason opener against the New England Patriots with just seven available offensive linemen. By the end of Thursday’s 17-3 loss at Gillette Stadium, the group was down to five players, which matched the number of sacks (five for a loss of 35 yards) the unit allowed during the rainy night in Foxborough, Mass.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales decided to sit all five of his starting offensive linemen in the team’s initial exhibition matchup. And the replacement group was filled with young, inexperienced linemen, outside of former starting left guard Brady Christensen, who ended up working at right guard throughout the entire game.
The group predictably struggled as rain poured down onto the field in the first half.
Badara Traore, serving as one of the starting offensive tackles, gave up two sacks in the first two quarters — including one on the final play of the opening drive — before leaving with an apparent injury at the end of the first half. Ricky Lee, who lined up at both tackle spots during the game, gave up a first-quarter sack and later was called for a holding penalty.
Cade Mays, who started at center, was later forced to leave the game early with a shoulder injury, according to Canales.
The team was then forced to play Lee, Christensen and left guard Chandler Zavala throughout the entire game, while undrafted rookies, Jeremiah Crawford and Andrew Raym, filled in for Traore and Mays, respectively.
Canales admitted after the game that the low numbers on the line complicated the Panthers’ plans once the injuries piled on.
“It does, for sure,” Canales said. “That’s some of the conversations we’re going to have to have as far as who plays this week (against the New York Jets).”
Further complicating the numbers game was guard Nash Jensen’s absence. The backup lineman was listed among the team’s inactives and wasn’t even in the area on Thursday. But for good reason.
“So Nash and his wife are having a child so he stayed back,” Canales said. “I thought that was really important, you know, for him to be there to be with his wife, just a special moment that only comes around every once in a while so for him to be able to do that was great. ... Just a tip of the cap for the guys that were able to stand in in his stead. ... I thought Andrew Raym, the rookie center, came in and did a really good job right there.”
Given the team’s lack of numbers at the position following the injuries to Mays and Traore, the Panthers might change their plans for the next preseason matchup against the Jets.
But Canales, following a one-sided loss, said that he will need to study what happened on Thursday before making decisions on any position, let alone the offensive line.
Said Canales: “It could (change plans) — I’ll watch the film, we’ll look at the numbers we have coming out of this and then we’ll make decisions.”
Quick hits
▪ Starting quarterback Bryce Young was among several inactive players on Thursday as expected. He was joined by more than 30 teammates on the sideline, including first-round pick Xavier Legette, defensive end Derrick Brown, safety Xavier Woods, wide receivers Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson, and cornerback Jaycee Horn. The team sat its three top running backs — Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Raheem Blackshear — as well.
▪ Safety Caden Sterns, who was claimed off waivers on Tuesday from the Denver Broncos, was waived by the team on Thursday with a failed physical designation. Sterns’ status with the team was pending a physical, similar to other NFL transactions. Sterns had missed 28 games over the past two seasons due to various injuries with Denver.
▪ The Panthers reached an injury settlement with tight end Stephen Sullivan ahead of the preseason matchup. Sullivan was subsequently released from injured reserve.
▪ Canales praised the performances of cornerback Lamar Jackson and outside linebacker Eku Leota following the game. The Observer had the pair of defenders among the game’s risers in its preseason stock watch. Leota had two tackles for loss and a QB hit, while Jackson produced two tackles and two pass breakups.
▪ Follow Observer reporters Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) and Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05), and columnist Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler), on X, formerly known as Twitter, for the Panthers’ latest news and highlights.
This story was originally published August 9, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
