3 Panthers That Won't Be on the Roster at the Start of the 2022 Season

The Carolina Panthers head into the 2022 season with a fan base desperate for results. Head coach Matt Rhule's team hasn't made the playoffs since 2017 and hasn't won more than five games in a season since 2018. Finding any way to improve this fall would go a long way in inspiring some hope.

First things first, the Panthers are tasked with trimming off some roster fat before Week 1 arrives. It's crucial for Carolina to keep players that can help them both in the short- and long-term. Here's a look at three Panthers players that won't be on the roster at the start of the 2022 season.

Panthers Roster Rumors

1. Sean Chandler, S

The Panthers re-signed safety Sean Chandler to a one-year deal this offseason in a surprising move. The 26-year-old struggled in coverage last season, allowing a perfect passer rating when targeted. Chandler also gave up a completion percentage of at least 80.0% for the third time in his career. The Panthers made a splash in free agency by adding Xavier Woods to pair with Jeremy Chinn in the secondary. The team also expects improvement out of players like Kenny Robinson and Juston Burris. That makes the likelihood of Chandler being on the roster much lower.

2. Chris Westry, CB

Another member of the secondary fighting for his job this summer is cornerback Chris Westry. He is a big, athletic ballhawk that intrigued the Panthers front office enough to warrant a free agent deal this offseason. That was before Carolina re-signed Donte Jackson, though. He joins Jaycee Horn and CJ Henderson to create a strong trio at the position. Westry is going to have to battle Keith Taylor Jr., a player that played in 41% of the defensive snaps and 49% of the special teams snaps in 2021, for a roster spot. That does not bode well for Westry's chances.

3. Sam Tecklenburg, C

Sam Tecklenburg saw little action at the center position for the Panthers last season, appearing in 131 snaps over 15 games. He was in line for a bigger role in 2022 before Carolina went out and signed Bradley Bozeman in free agency. Bozeman is locked in as the starting center and veteran Pat Elflein is capable of sliding over if an injury were to occur. That leaves making the practice squad as the best way for Tecklenburg to stick around. If he can't accomplish that, then he'll be looking for a new team to call home.

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