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5 Players Who Are Changing the Conversation at Panthers Training Camp
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- 5 Players Who Are Changing the Conversation at Panthers Training Camp
| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Sue Levine, Editor
Panthers ' training camp is usually where expectations start to take shape.
The starters are trying to build momentum, young players are fighting for opportunities, and depth players are trying to prove they belong on the roster.
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This year is no different, but several Panthers have made that process interesting. A few players entered camp with questions about what their roles would look like. Players who weren't necessarily expected to play major roles have started making plays, showing development, and forcing the coaching staff to take a closer look at what they can bring to the team. They have all stood out in different ways during Panthers training camp.
Some of these players were already expected to compete for roster spots. Others entered camp with much less certainty surrounding their roles.
Here are five Panthers who have changed the conversation during Panthers training camp.
5 Players Who Are Changing the Conversation at Panthers Training Camp
Jimmy Horn Jr. Is Becoming More Than a Gadget Player
During Jimmy Horn Jr.'s time at Colorado , he was a player who was fun to watch. His speed, quickness, and ability to make plays with the ball in his hands made him an exciting player, but at 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, his path to sticking in the NFL was always going to be difficult . The Panthers selected him in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft , and as a rookie, he mainly contributed on special teams while Carolina found ways to use his speed as a returner and gadget player.
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Now, heading into his second season, Horn is starting to change that perception. He looks bigger and more comfortable playing through contact. His improved understanding of the offense has allowed him to play faster. His route running and ability to create separation have also stood out throughout Panthers training camp . That development carried into the preseason against Jacksonville , where Horn totaled 83 all-purpose yards, including a 39-yard end-around, a 15-yard reception, and a 29-yard kickoff return .
Horn still has to prove he can consistently win against starting NFL defenses, but the Panthers are giving him more chances to do that. He may not need to win the traditional WR3 job to have an impact , either. Carolina can move him around, create touches, and use his speed to create mismatches. Horn is beginning to look less like a small, fast gadget player and more like a legitimate wide receiver who can earn regular offensive snaps. For a player who entered the league at 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, that's a pretty significant change.
John Metchie III Is Looking Like an Underrated Steal
As the title suggests, John Metchie III is changing the conversation around his signing . When Carolina brought him in this offseason, it was easy for the move to get lost in the shuffle. The Panthers had a much more headline-grabbing free agency period , signing players such as Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips . Compared to those additions, Metchie felt like a quieter move that didn't receive much attention.
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Now, that quiet signing is looking increasingly important. Injuries to Chris Brazzell II and Xavier Legette have created opportunities in Carolina's receiver room, and Metchie has taken advantage of them. He has consistently made plays throughout the Panthers' training camp and the preseason, including a six-catch, 77-yard performance against Jacksonville. Preseason production doesn't guarantee regular-season success, but Metchie has shown enough consistency to go from a potential roster question to a player who could have a legitimate role in three-receiver sets.
That's why Metchie's emergence matters. Carolina didn't necessarily need Metchie to be a star when it brought him in. The Panthers needed another reliable receiver who could provide depth and contribute when called upon. With injuries creating a need and Metchie proving he can produce, his arrival now feels less like an afterthought and more like a necessary addition. What started as a forgettable signing could end up being one of Carolina's biggest steals of the offseason.
Aug 21, 2026; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver John Metchie III (13) stiff arms Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Jahlani Tavai (32) during the third quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images
Princely Umanmielen Is Giving the Panthers a Much-Needed Boost
Nic Scourton's injury to start Panthers training camp was a gut punch for the Panthers players and fans. After finally pairing him with Jaelan Phillips , Carolina looked to have the makings of an underrated pass-rushing duo. Scourton's season-ending injury changed that immediately, leaving the Panthers needing someone else to step up. Fortunately, Princely Umanmielen has provided some much-needed optimism along the edge.
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Umanmielen was already showing flashes as a rookie, but his role was limited. He played roughly 22 percent of Carolina's defensive snaps in 2025 and finished with 1.5 sacks. This year, his play has noticeably improved, especially as a pass rusher, even though he remains behind veteran Patrick Jones II on the depth chart . Dave Canales has asked Umanmielen to take on a much larger role, and Jaelan Phillips has gone as far as calling him the most naturally gifted pass rusher on the roster , praising his bend, length, and speed.
A guy who entered the season as a rotational piece is now being asked to prove he can be part of the solution to Carolina's pass-rush problems. Umanmielen doesn't have to place the burden on himself, but if he can provide quality snaps against the pass and continue improving against the run, Carolina suddenly has another legitimate piece to rotate along the edge. Scourton's injury was a major blow, but Umanmielen's emergence may have softened it.
Jan 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks for a receiver pressured by Carolina Panthers linebacker Princely Umanmielen (3) during the second half of the NFC Wild Card Round game between the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Zakee Wheatley Is Finally Starting to Look Like a Draft-Day Steal
Zakee Wheatley has gone through some growing pains this offseason and Panthers training camp, but the rookie safety is finally starting to look like the steal that many, including me, believed he could be . Selected in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Wheatley initially struggled with Carolina's defensive scheme during rookie OTAs and had to adjust to the speed and complexity of the NFL.
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That showed during training camp, as Wheatley's early chances of a starting role were slowed down. He needed to improve his pursuit angles and coverage instincts, but his speed and playmaking ability were never in question. He has responded well during the preseason, leading the Panthers in total tackles through three games and showing the range to make plays all over the field. He also recently intercepted Bryce Young during a 7-on-7 period with the first-team offense.
Wheatley doesn't need to become a starter immediately. He needs to keep cleaning up the inconsistencies while continuing to make plays when his opportunities come. If he can do that, Carolina may have found another valuable piece in the fifth round. After a rocky start to the offseason, Wheatley is finally starting to look like the player many thought he could be when the Panthers drafted him.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Ameer Abdullah (43) eludes Carolina Panthers linebacker Jackson Kuwatch (46) in the second quarter during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium in the second preseason game on Friday night, August 21, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Jackson Kuwatch Is Becoming More Than a Special Teams Player
Who would really expect much from a seventh-round rookie other than a football junkie or a Miami (Ohio) fan? Jackson Kuwatch entered Panthers training camp with the expectations that come with being the 227th overall pick, and special teams was always going to be his clearest path to the roster. Instead, he has done enough at linebacker to change the conversation. Kuwatch has shown strong tackling ability, good instincts, and a solid understanding of Carolina's defense, plus his nonstop effort has made him a valuable special teams player. For a guy drafted 227th overall, even getting into the third-string linebacker conversation is a pretty big deal.
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That doesn't mean Kuwatch is suddenly guaranteed a roster spot, but the Panthers are looking at him differently than they were when camp started. Most teams carry six to eight linebackers, and third-string players are often important depth pieces who contribute heavily on special teams. For Kuwatch, being a reliable special teams player could be enough to make the 53-man roster, but his ability to handle defensive snaps gives Carolina another reason to keep him around and develop him. He still has some work to do in pass coverage, but his tackling and physicality give him a foundation to build on.
There is still one more preseason game with plenty of time for Carolina to make its final decisions. But Kuwatch has already done something important: he's given the Panthers a reason to keep talking about him. Going from a late-round developmental linebacker to a real guy fighting for a roster spot is a win by itself. Kuwatch could give the Panthers much more than they expected when they called his name in the seventh round.
Panthers training camp doesn't determine who will succeed once the regular season begins, but it changes how the team views its own roster. That's what makes these five players so interesting. None of them has suddenly become stars, but each has given Carolina a reason to think differently about what they can contribute this season.
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