Well, it looks like we’re going to have to learn quite a few new names in about an hour.
The Carolina Panthers have officially ruled out 33 of their players for tonight’s preseason opener against the New England Patriots. Those inactive are as follows:
- QB Bryce Young
- QB Andy Dalton
- RB Chuba Hubbard
- RB Miles Sanders
- RB Raheem Blackshear
- RB Jonathon Brooks
- WR Diontae Johnson
- WR Adam Thielen
- WR Xavier Legette
- TE Tommy Tremble
- TE Ian Thomas
- OT Ikem Ekwonu
- OT Taylor Moton
- G Damien Lewis
- G Robert Hunt
- G Nash Jensen
- C Austin Corbett
- DE Derrick Brown
- DE A’Shawn Robinson
- DE LaBryan Ray
- DT Shy Tuttle
- OLB Jadeveon Clowney
- OLB D.J. Wonnum
- OLB Amaré Barno
- OLB Cam Gill
- ILB Shaq Thompson
- ILB Josey Jewell
- CB Jaycee Horn
- CB Troy Hill
- S Xavier Woods
- S Jordan Fuller
- S Nick Scott
- S Sam Franklin Jr.
Young’s status, of course, is no surprise—as head coach Dave Canales ruled out his starting quarterback earlier this week. He spoke a bit about the guys who will be in his and Dalton’s stead—including undrafted rookie Jack Plummer.
“Yeah, I’ve learned the guy’s a hard worker,” Canales stated of Plummer on Tuesday. “I learned that he’s very detailed in what he does. I feel like he’s been really sharp with the different changes that happen at the line. Really just, like, the mechanisms, the cadences and all that stuff—I think he’s sharp there. He’s a great athlete. He’s got a big arm. He’s showcased that a couple times, and love his mobility, and he’s really got a cool demeanor about him.”
The Panthers will also field Jake Luton, who spent last summer in Carolina.
“A guy that’s been around, a couple of different teams,” Canales said about Luton. “I was with him in Seattle for a little bit. So a guy that knows how to play football and function—that’s what we really needed to feel good about the evaluation and how important that is.”