The Carolina Panthers are just days away from kicking off their 2026 season against the Chicago Bears.
The team returns most of its key pieces from last year, and they were able to add some real difference-makers over the offseason. Devin Lloyd and Bobby Okereke should completely transform the linebacker room, while Jaelan Phillips gives the team an elite pass rusher.
However, that’s not to say every spot on the roster is firm and solidified. Today, we’re going to take a look at four projected starters who could end up losing their spots before the season ends.
TE Tommy Tremble
© Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
Tommy Tremble is very loosely hanging on to the starting tight end spot. The Panthers brought in Darren Waller at the end of the summer, and they wouldn’t have done that if they were content with the internal options.
Tremble has never had more than 249 receiving yards in a season, so it wouldn’t exactly be hard for another tight end to surpass him. Waller is a former Pro Bowler who was an efficient red zone target as recently as last year. The only thing helping Tremble is the fact that Waller is old and none of the other tight ends are exciting.
C Luke Fortner
Luke Fortner was brought in this offseason after the Panthers lost Cade Mays in free agency. Fortner has been a solid but unspectacular starter in his career, and the veteran beat out rookie Sam Hecht for the job this summer.
However, Hecht has been getting better and better. He’s a mid-round rookie, so it’s not surprising. It also won’t be surprising if the rookie takes the job away in the middle of the season. Hecht was solid as a run blocker and pass blocker in the preseason, and he clearly has a higher ceiling than Fortner.
OLB Patrick Jones II
Patrick Jones II didn’t have an ideal debut season with the Panthers in 2025. The veteran only played in four games and collected just one sack. Nic Scourton is out for the year, so Jones could be relied upon heavily this year.
However, Princely Umanmielen is also around, and he played great in the preseason. Like with Hecht at center, Umanmielen has infinitely more potential than the incumbent veteran. Eventually, Umanmielen could become too impressive to keep off the field.
S Nick Scott
Nick Scott is a favorite of the coaching staff, but his play has been uninspiring. Scott was not good, especially in coverage, in 2025, and the Panthers do have two interesting young safety options behind him.
If Scott continues to be a liability, the team could easily turn to Lathan Ransom or Zakee Wheatley. Both Ransom and Wheatley showed flashes in the summer, but neither were consistent enough to outright take the job.
