Panthers' 53-man roster takes shape as Okereke looms and Metchie earns spot
The Panthers reached the 53-man limit with notable moves: Trevin Wallace was waived while John Metchie III earned a spot over veteran David Moore and Ja’seem Reed, aided by the expected arrival of veteran linebacker Bobby Okereke. Metchie’s preseason production and chemistry with Bryce Young helped his case. The team kept three quarterbacks (Young, Kenny Pickett, Haynes King), three running backs (Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks, AJ Dillon), five tight ends (Darren Waller, Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, Feleipe Franks, Ja'Tavion Sanders), six wide receivers (Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, Jimmy Horn Jr., Brycen Tremayne, John Metchie III), and a heavy ten-man offensive line. On defense, six defensive linemen, five outside linebackers, three inside linebackers with room for Okereke, five cornerbacks, four safeties, and a three-man special-teams unit round out the group, with a trade for TeRah Edwards adding run-stopping depth. The roster is close to final, though tweaks could come before the Bears game.
