The Carolina Panthers, along with the Arizona Cardinals, will kick off the NFL’s 2026 preseason on Thursday night—in the Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio. And, as expected, the reigning NFC South champions won’t be rolling out their starters just yet.
But did they give us an early peek at how their lineup may unfold into the regular season.
Here, as released on Monday night, is the Panthers’ first preseason depth chart of the year . . .
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: Trevor Etienne
- Fourth string: AJ Dillon
- Fifth string: Anthony Tyus III
Wide receiver
- First string: Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette
- Second string: Brycen Tremayne, David Moore, Jimmy Horn Jr.
- Third string: Ja’seem Reed, John Metchie III, Ainias Smith
- Fourth string: Casey Washington, Gabriel Benyard, Malick Meiga
Tight end
- First string: Tommy Tremble
- Second string: Mitchell Evans
- Third string: Ja’Tavion Sanders
- Fourth string: Feleipe Franks
- Fifth string: Caden Prieskorn
- Sixth string: Chamon Metayer
Left tackle
- First string: Rasheed Walker
- Second string: Stone Forsythe
- Third string: Ryan Hayes
- Fourth string: Albert Reese
Left guard
- First string: Damien Lewis
- Second string: Chandler Zavala
- Second string: Saahdiq Charles
- Third string: Isaia Glass
Center
- First string: Luke Fortner
- Second string: Sam Hecht
- Third string: Nick Samac
Right guard
- First string: Robert Hunt
- Second string: Brady Christensen
- Third string: Ja’Tyre Carter
- Fourth string: Isaia Glass
Right tackle
- First string: Monroe Freeling
- Second string: Stone Forsythe
- Third string: Ryan Hayes
- Fourth string: Albert Reese
Defensive line
- First string: Derrick Brown, Cam Jackson, Bobby Brown III
- Second string: LaBryan Ray, Lee Hunter, Jared Harrison-Hunte
- Third string: Aaron Hall, Elijah Garcia, Isaiah Smith
- Fourth string: Kyon Barrs, Tywone Malone Jr.
Outside linebacker
- First string: Jaelan Phillips, Pat Jones II
- Second string: Princely Umanmielen, Trevis Gipson
- Third string: Nick Hampton, Thomas Incoom
- Fourth string: Cam Gill
Inside linebacker
- First string: Devin Lloyd, Trevin Wallace
- Second string: Bam Martin-Scott, Claudin Cherelus
- Third string: Maema Njongmeta, Jackson Kuwatch
- Fourth string: Mapalo Mwansa
Cornerback
- First string: Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson
- Second string: Corey Thornton, Chau Smith-Wade
- Third string: Will Lee III, Akayleb Evans
- Fourth string: Robert Rochell, Tyler Funderburk
- Fifth string: Devonta Smith, Cam Miller
- Sixth string: DeCarlos Nicholson
Safety
- First string: Tre’von Moehrig, Nick Scott
- Second string: Zakee Wheatley, Lathan Ransom
- Third string: Demani Richardson, Isaiah Simmons
Kicker
- First string: Ryan Fitzgerald
Punter
- First string: Sam Martin
Long snapper
- First string: JJ Jansen
Kick returner
- First string: Trevor Etienne
- Second string: Jimmy Horn Jr.
Punt returner
- First string: Trevor Etienne
- Second string: Jimmy Horn Jr.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers release 1st preseason depth chart ahead of Hall of Fame Game
