Panthers release first depth chart of 2026 regular season

We

kinda know how the Carolina Panthers will look, at least aesthetically, for their regular-season opener on Sunday. But how will they look when they line up against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium?

Well, we got a bit of a preview—as the team released their unofficial depth chart for the matchup on Tuesday afternoon.

Here's how Carolina's ranks stand heading into Week 1 of the 2026 campaign . . .

Quarterback

• First string: Bryce Young
• Second string: Kenny Pickett
• Third string: Haynes King

Running back

• First string: Chuba Hubbard
• Second string: Jonathon Brooks
• Third string: AJ Dillon

Wide receiver

• First string: Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette
• Second string: Brycen Tremayne, Jimmy Horn Jr., John Metchie III

Tight end

• First string: Tommy Tremble
• Second string: Mitchell Evans
• Third string: Darren Waller
• Fourth string: Ja'Tavion Sanders
• Fifth string: Feleipe Franks

Left tackle

• First string: Rasheed Walker
• Second string: Stone Forsythe
• Third string: Albert Reese

Left guard

• First string: Damien Lewis

Center

• First string: Luke Fortner
• Second string: Sam Hecht

Right guard

• First string: Robert Hunt
• Second string: Corey Bullock

Right tackle

• First string: Monroe Freeling
• Second string: Stone Forsythe
• Third string: Albert Reese IV

Defensive line

• First string: Derrick Brown, Lee Hunter, Bobby Brown III
• Second string: TeRah Edwards, Cam Jackson, Aaron Hall

Outside linebacker

• First string: Jaelan Phillips, Pat Jones II
• Second string: Princely Umanmielen, Trevis Gipson Sr.
• Third string: Thomas Incoom

Inside linebacker

• First string: Devin Lloyd, Bobby Okereke
• Second string: Claudin Cherelus, Jackson Kuwatch

Cornerback

• First string: Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson
• Second string: Will Lee III, Chau Smith-Wade
• Third string: Akayleb Evans

Safety

• First string: Tre'von Moehrig, Nick Scott
• Second string: Zakee Wheatley, Lathan Ransom

Kicker

• First string: Ryan Fitzgerald

Punter

• First string: Sam Martin

Long snapper

• First string: JJ Jansen

Kick returner

• First string: Jimmy Horn Jr.
• Second string: Xavier Legette
• Third string: Chuba Hubbard

Punt returner

• First string: Jimmy Horn Jr.
• Second string: Xavier Legette
• Third string: Chuba Hubbard

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers release first depth chart of 2026 regular season