The Carolina Panthers have one more week of preseason action to determine which players will and will not make the roster. The final cut day is looming, and it could be a painful one. The Panthers just wallopped the Jacksonville Jaguars , so where do things stand now?
Here's the 53-man roster projection as of now:
Carolina Panthers running back AJ Dillon (28) warms up before a preseason game | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
QB
RB
WR
John Metchie
TE
OT
Monroe Freeling
Albert Reese IV
IOL
Sam Hecht
Damien Lewis
It's time to admit that AJ Dillon has a very strong case to make the final roster. He has arguably looked the best of the running backs. It will come at the cost of Ja'seem Reed, who has looked good but hasn't stood out on special teams like other WRs.
Trevor Etienne can be used as a receiving back to make up for taking one fewer wide receiver. Little else has changed here. Of course, Darren Waller has yet to play, but we have to assume the Panthers didn't sign him to cut him weeks later and roll with the clearly underwhelming TE room.
Carolina Panthers safety Isaiah Simmons (27) breaks up a pass intended for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Austin Trammell | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Here's the projection on defense:
IDL
Aaron Hall
Lee Hunter
EDGE
Pat Jones
ILB
Claudin Cherilus
Jackson Kuwatch
CB
S
Tre'von Moehrig
Zakee Wheatley
For now, Aaron Hall remains just ahead of Elijah Garcia on the cut line, but it's close. That battle has swung back and forth and could still do so this weekend in the final preseason game. Corey Thornton has been thoroughly outplayed by Chau Smith-Wade, and his roster spot might be in jeopardy.
Isaiah Simmons had another good preseason game, this time on defense as well as special teams. The hybrid, versatile defender is all but assured of a spot on this roster Week 1.
As for special teams, JJ Jansen, Sam Martin, and Ryan Fitzgerald will take up their usual long snapper, punter, and kicker spots. There's no competition for any of them.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/panthers/onsi as Carolina Panthers' 53-Man Roster Projection After Blowout Win vs. Jaguars .
