This article is part of our 2020 Training Camp Preview series.
Expanding upon our team preview collection from earlier this offseason, we're gearing up for an irregular August with a series of team-specific articles to get you up to speed for training camp. You can find the previous writeup on the Carolina Panthers here.
State of the Franchise
After the subtractions of long-time head coach Ron Rivera and franchise legends Cam Newton, Greg Olsen and Luke Kuechly, the Panthers face great change ahead of the 2020 campaign. While new coach Matt Rhule may appreciate building his roster from scratch, the global pandemic poses a big obstacle as he prepares for his first NFL season.
With virtual meetings from home, Rhule has been pleased with the team's progress, specifically that of rookie offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Fresh off a championship season at LSU, the 30-year-old Brady's attention to detail while installing his system has stood out. Brady's scheme originates from his time with the division-rival Saints, where he also worked with new Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Carolina has been impressed with Bridgewater's veteran leadership conducting meetings online and hopes his accuracy can highlight big-play threats D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson and Curtis Samuel at receiver. With superstar Christian McCaffrey at tailback to boot, the Panthers arguably boast the league's fastest set of offensive weapons as they embark on a new era for the organization.
Job Battles
Battle No. 1
Although the Panthers made Christian McCaffrey the highest-paid running back in league history this offseason, their situation behind the dual-threat dynamo is far from figured out. Historically, Carolina's RB2 job has yielded very little involvement – wideout Curtis Samuel actually placed second on the team with 19 carries last season – but Reggie Bonnafon, Mike Davis and Jordan Scarlett nonetheless will compete for backup duties during training camp. While those names don't jump off the page for fantasy purposes, if anything were to happen to McCaffrey, the engine of Carolina's offense, there'd suddenly be a huge opportunity for any of the aforementioned options to excel.
Battle No. 2
Despite ranking second in franchise history in scoring, kicker Graham Gano enters this season needing to earn his spot. That's because amid Gano missing 2019 following knee surgery, then-rookie Joey Slye led the NFL with 11 attempts and eight makes from 50-plus yards. Such success saw Slye place 14th among kickers in points, giving the 33-year-old Gano relatively stiff competition as he returns to the team.
Medical Tent
Carolina's kicker since 2012, Gano missed all of last season after being placed on injured reserve with four games left in the 2018 campaign. Recurring issues with his left knee ultimately required surgery last fall, allowing Joey Slye to assume kicking duties. The powerful Slye did well enough to warrant the Panthers bringing him back, but with Gano's plant leg now healed as he resumes kicking, the stage is set for a battle to determine who reclaims the job over the course of training camp.
After setting a new career high with 109 tackles and earning a lucrative long-term contract along the way, Thompson was shut down for the Panthers' final two games of 2019 amid a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old had minor surgery to clean up the issue and faces increased responsibility as he returns this season. With perennial All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly retiring in the offseason, Thompson is left to lead a noticeably young and revamped Carolina defense under new coordinator Phil Snow.
DT Kawann Short
Named to his second Pro Bowl in 2018, Short played just two games last season due to a shoulder injury. Following surgery to repair the issue, the veteran is expected to be ready for camp. His presence should bolster a Panthers defense that struggled mightily last fall, and rookie first-rounder Derrick Brown figures to offer a formidable partner alongside him in the trenches. In those two, Carolina hopes to become more disruptive up front while seeing Short get back to his best.
