Dave Canales had a concern.
As the first-year coach of the rebuilding Carolina Panthers, Canales certainly had more than one. But the cornerback room continues to warrant attention.
At the top end of the depth chart, Jaycee Horn remains – potentially – one of the top-skilled cover men in the NFL. But the 2021 sixth-overall draft pick has missed 29 career games because of injury. Can he remain healthy?
Can the Panthers discover a solution for coverage along the right boundary?
For much of the summer, the fanbase expected the Panthers to reach a free-agent deal with Stephon Gilmore. But the five-time Pro Bowler and Rock Hill, S.C., apparently targeted a stronger playoff contender and signed with the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 19, despite a strong financial offer from the Panthers.
Since signing with the Panthers in March, cornerback Dane Jackson predominately worked with the first unit defense, but suffered a “significant hamstring” injury during the joint practice with the New York Jets on Aug. 15 that will keep him sidelined for about six weeks, Canales said.
Reinforcements were needed before the season opener at the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 8.
#Panthers coach Dave Canales said after Wednesday’s #NFL practice he will continue “challenging” the roster … pic.twitter.com/cCijjSZbbG
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 29, 2024
Panthers’ Dave Canales ‘Challenging’ NFL Roster, Bolstering CB Depth
Calling All Cornerbacks
General manager Dan Morgan went shopping for help last Thursday, landing veteran cornerback Mike Jackson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. The Panthers jettisoned rookie linebacker Michael Barrett, who was cut Tuesday but later signed to the Seahawks’ practice squad.
One day after the NFL cutdown day, Morgan utilized his position as the top waiver-wire claimant, the Panthers bolstered the team depth by adding six players, including three cornerbacks.
Former New York Jets cornerback Shemar Bartholomew, former Washington Commanders cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields, and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Keenan Isaac were Receiving an NFL lifeline in Charlotte.
Bartholomew staged an introductory press conference following Thursday’s practice. The undrafted free agent from Georgia Southern registered seven tackles (five solo) and two passes defended in three preseason games with the Jets. The Panthers beat out three other teams — the Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Saints — for the rights to Bartholomew, who didn’t allow a pass reception on nine preseason attempts. Pro Football Focus awarded him with an 85.2 coverage grade. He gave a succinct assessment of his skills.
“Ummmm, I’m physical,” he said. “I can run and I love the ball.”
Canales on Wednesday spoke of the team’s coverage concerns and the “measurables” the newcomers bring to the roster.
“I just really feel like we owe it to this team to look,” Canales said after Wednesday’s practice, the second since cutting the preseason roster down from 90. “We looked across all the league and kinda compared it to the roster we had. And we’ve been talking about challenging our roster from the beginning. Really started off with the secondary room.”
@Panthers defenders work on fundamental “shot-gun” tackling technique during Wednesday’s @NFL mandatory minicamp … #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/re2tp8FvbA
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) June 13, 2024
Panthers Seek Deeper Secondary
Throughout the offseason program and training camp, Canales anticipated one of the squad’s prospects, such as D’Shawn Jamison, Dicaprio Bootle, or Lamar Jackson, could step up and claim the CB2 role. The trio was cut.
“We know who they are,” Canales said. “We know what they look like. It’s gonna be a long season, but we wanted to make sure we got eyes on a lot of people to see who can help us this year.”
When asked after Wednesday’s practice if Jackson was clubhouse leader to start opposite Horn, Canales said: “(Mike) has experience in this scheme the last couple of years in Seattle. So he’s fully aware of what’s expected of him from a scheme standpoint.
“And he’s the right style of player. He shows up tough and physical at the ball. He’s got speed (and) he’s got size, all those things.”
Still, claiming three cornerbacks less than 24 hours after establishing the initial 53-man roster, could be considered a bid concerning, correct?
“Not now,” Canales said. “I mean, we got guys to look at.”
New #Panthers CB Shemar Bartholomew describes his #NFL playing style during Thursday’s introductory presser … pic.twitter.com/pMxPKzHIen
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 29, 2024
Main Photo: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
