With the last preseason game of the season comes the last chance for every player sitting on their roster bubble to strain and fight for a spot on a 53-man roster, be it the Carolina Panthers or any of the other 31 teams in the NFL. With Dave Canales announcing that most starters will not be playing against the Steelers on Thursday, the spotlight is now directed at the back end of the roster. For many, it’s a now or never after a lackluster showing versus the Houston Texans last week. With this week’s
edition of players to watch, it’s time to direct everyone’s attention to the players with the most on the line and the best opportunity to make a final push to be on the roster come the Panthers first game of the regular season.
Shemar Bartholomew | Cornerback | #27
With Jaycee Horn not participating during the preseason games after a car accident caused a thumb injury, the Panthers have been rotating starters opposite Mike Jackson this preseason. Last week, Bartholomew received the starting nod after Corey Thornton started the first outing against the Cleveland Browns. Having joined the team as a waiver claim after the initial 53-man roster cutdown last season, Bartholomew has spent almost a full year with the team just waiting for opportunities to play. Now is his time. It’s time to find out if he can make the most of the last opportunity to hold off Thornton, a UDFA rookie who has become somewhat of a sensation this training camp.
Brycen Tremayne | Wide Receiver | #87
Once thought of as a back-of-the-roster camp body, Tremayne has steadily made a name for himself during training camp. Not only has the big-bodied receiver made plays against his Panthers teammates, but he’s taken every advantage of the joint practices and preseason games against other rosters to stand out. Even still, Tremayne faces an uphill battle against the likes of Hunter Renfrow, Jalen Coker, David Moore and Jimmy Horn Jr for the last 2 or 3 roster spots from the receivers room. Another productive outing at receiver and on special teams (Tremayne’s 9 snaps on special teams versus the Texans was the most of any offensive player) and the Panthers might be forced to push the limits of their roster to keep Tremayne on the squad.
Thomas Incoom | Outside Linebacker | #48
The Panthers outside linebacker room has been a fixation of theirs this offseason, with a number of high profile moves being made to revamp the struggling unit. Releasing Jadeveon Clowney, signing Patrick Jones and then trading up twice on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft for a couple more players at the position would indicate the Panthers are ready and willing to turn over the position. Cue Thomas Incoom, a practice squad player who has turned some heads in training camp and has seemingly applied plenty of pressure on incumbent back-up and former 3rd round selection DJ Johnson. While Incoom’s practice reps have earned him some praise, his production in the preseason games has not yet materialized. With one last opportunity, some production on defense and continued success on special teams (Incoom had 12 special teams snaps against the Texans, tied for most on the team) might do enough to help him secure a roster spot.
Jaden Crumedy | Defensive Tackle | #96
It wasn’t just the outside linebacker position the Panthers were interested in bolstering this offseason, it was also the defensive line that received a heavy investment. Crumedy, a 6th round pick from the Panthers 2024 draft class, watched as the team celebrated the return of Derrick Brown from a season long injury, acquired two key free agents, and spent a 5th round draft pick all across the defensive line. Due to some current injuries at the position, there is a glimmer of hope for Crumedy to sneak onto the roster with a solid outing. Last week, Crumedy played 62% of the snaps and projects for a similar workload versus the Steelers.
Trevor Etienne | Running Back | #23
The rookie running back is in a very intriguing heading into the final preseason game. While his position on the roster is almost certainly secure, his role and usage remain to be confirmed. As a young RB3 behind two veteran backs who put up over 1,000 yards apiece last season, he’ll probably get a bulk of opportunities in the first half of the game as Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle prepare themselves for Week One. Not only will his usage on offense be fascinating, Etienne is also fighting for the starting returner spot on special teams. The question has now become: can Etienne continue to show a spark on offense and carry that over to special teams when called upon?
Jacoby Windmon | Inside Linebacker | #41
If there was a position that the Panthers went budget shopping on this offseason, it was the inside linebacker position. There was one free agent addition and practically no other noteworthy additions. With the loss of Josey Jewell, the position has potentially even taken a step back. With a weak position group comes opportunity, and 2024 UDFA rookie Jacoby Windmon has seemingly taken a step towards seizing that opportunity. Against the Texans, Windmon led the Panthers in tackles (6) and special teams snaps (12 – tied with 2 other players). Could the Panthers be getting a bargain with Windmon as a stalwart special teamer and back-up linebacker?
Ryan Fitzgerald | Kicker | #35
The kicking competition has officially come down to the wire with no discernable leader in the race. Fitzgerald has not missed a kick this preseason, making a single field goal in each of the Panthers games with a long of 52 yards while also putting the ball where it needs to be with the Panthers new kickoff style. Fitzgerald’s competition, Matthew Wright, has only had one field goal attempt which was wide left from 55 yards but has seemingly looked like the more consistent kicker during practice. With just one more game to go, the Panthers will need to score more than single digit points in order to properly evaluate the kicking competition in a live-game setting. When the stadium lights come on Thursday night versus the Steelers, the Panthers will hope it will show them which leg is the right one to go with for the regular season.
