The Panthers will likely roll out a few more starters this week against the Bills, however the meat and potatoes of this preseason game will likely be the backups once again. The second and third stringers are the guys worth monitoring, and here’s a few to keep an eye on.
Chris Manhertz
Manhertz could see a steady work load this week, as Greg Olsen will likely play very little (if at all) and Ian Thomas is still nursing injured ribs. Manhertz made some plays in the passing game this week during joint practices, and should get even more opportunities to shine this week. Manhertz has mostly been used as a run blocker for Carolina, but with their two other receiving options likely limited or out, Manhertz should get plenty of chances to catch some footballs. He’s an athlete who has been honing his craft since he got here a few years ago, and has impressed the coaches thus far in the 2019 preseason.
Ross Cockrell
Tre Boston appears to have taken over as the primary free safety, and while he got snaps last week I wouldn’t expect the team to expose him too much to the first/second team defense. However, this makes Ross Cockrell an interesting story to monitor. Cockrell has gotten work at both safety and cornerback during training camp, so where he lines up during the game could dictate exactly what direction Carolina is going with him. It doesn’t hurt to have a backup defensiveback who can do a lot of things for you, but with safety being a relatively new position for the traditionally outside cornerback, Cockrell might get some chances to make plays and show his value as a versatile piece.
Marquis Haynes
Haynes really went to work last week, with two sacks, some pressures, and even a drawn holding penalty. While it is hard to draw a ton of analysis out of a player who beat up on some backups, it’s worth noting that we haven’t seen anything close to that kind of performance from Haynes since he was drafted, preseason or otherwise. With Brian Burns still nursing a bruised ankle, and Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin being veterans, Haynes should get another opportunity to show he belongs as the fourth 3-4 outside linebacker in this new scheme. He isn’t just making a case for a 53-man roster spot, he’s making a case to be a part of the rotation if he continues to thrive.
Jordan Scarlett
Elijah Holyfield was the beneficiary of the extra snaps last week from Christian McCaffery not playing and Cameron Artis-Payne really only playing with the second/third team, and he made some plays (minus a fumble of course). However, Scarlett returns this week, and the coaches haven’t had a look at him in live game action just yet. I’d imagine Holyfield will still get his snaps, but Scarlett has a very real chance of making the team as the third half back. This is where he proves it.
Waiting for the starters still sucks, but these guys have a good chance to give Panthers fans some hope. Who are you excited for?