Tag: Chandler Zavala

Panthers’ 2023 rookie class ranked amongst worst in NFL

The Panthers didn’t get much of a return on their rookie class this past season.

Even with the No. 1 pick heading the pack, the Carolina Panthers’ rookie class fell far behind.

NFL.com analysts Eric Edholm and Chad Reuter recently ran back to the 2023 draft board and ranked last spring’s hauls. Down all the way at No. 28 are the Panthers, who received a ‘D+’ grade.

Edholm writes of first overall pick Bryce Young:

The prime disappointment was Young’s rookie season. The No. 1 overall pick started 16 games, and it was tough sledding for most of it. The environment seemed extremely unfavorable for learning on the fly, with the Panthers lacking elite weapons and cohesion on the offensive line. Carolina also fired head coach Frank Reich midseason, and it’s fair to wonder if turmoil on the coaching staff stunted Young’s growth. Tight end Hayden Hurst said after the season he thought Young had “too many voices in his head” during the trying season.

Young finished the campaign averaging 179.8 passing yards per contest with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. So, no, that’s not a lot of bang for Carolina’s big-time buck.

The Panthers didn’t get much of a return on the rest of the kids they drafted either. Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo amassed just 418 yards and no touchdowns, outside linebacker DJ Johnson had as many quarterback hits as your grandmother did, guard Chandler Zavala finished with the worst Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade (7.1) amongst all linemen with at least seven appearances and safety Jammie Robinson played in just 64 defensive snaps.

To add insult to insult, the Houston Texans—who picked behind the Panthers to start the festivities—ranked atop the list.

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Best and worst PFF grades from Panthers’ 2023 season

PFF’s best and worst grades for the Carolina Panthers in 2023

Pencils down, players!

With the 2023 test officially over, let’s see which Carolina Panthers received the highest and lowest grades from Pro Football Focus.

Panthers place Jonathan Mingo on injured reserve

Jonathan Mingo’s rookie season is officially over, as the Panthers have placed the young wideout on injured reserve.

Jonathan Mingo’s rookie campaign is officially over.

The Carolina Panthers announced that they have placed the first-year wide receiver on injured reserve this afternoon. He will not, obviously, be available for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a foot injury.

A standout at the University of Mississippi, Mingo was taken by the Panthers in the second round of this past year’s draft. But the 39th overall selection, much like the rest of the Carolina offense, did not make much of a splash in 2023.

Mingo ends his season having reeled in 43 receptions for 418 yards and no touchdowns over 15 games. He also finishes with the third-lowest catch rate in the league at 50.6 percent—besting only New York’s Allen Lazard (46.9) and Arizona’s Marquise Brown (50.5).

The 22-year-old is now the second member of the Panthers’ 2023 draft class to have his season cut short. Guard and fourth-round pick Chandler Zavala was placed on injured reserve back on Nov. 29 due to a knee issue.

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Panthers’ updated practice squad after addition of Deonte Brown

Panthers’ updated 16-man practice squad following Thursday’s return of Deonte Brown

The Carolina Panthers brought back a familiar face to their practice squad on Thursday, adding guard Deonte Brown at the expense of quarterback Jake Luton.

Brown’s return may not be too surprising considering the current state (or whatever’s left of it) of Carolina’s interior offensive line. With Brady Christensen, Austin Corbett and Chandler Zavala now all lost for the rest of the season, the 2021 sixth-round pick could provide some insurance to a battered front.

Let’s take an updated look at the practice squad with Brown, once again, in the fold:

Panthers placing Chandler Zavala on injured reserve

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Panthers are placing rookie G Chandler Zavala on injured reserve.

A rough season has gotten even rougher for Carolina Panthers guard Chandler Zavala.

As first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the rookie offensive lineman is being placed on injured reserve. He will now, per the team’s official release, miss the remainder of the campaign due to the knee injury he sustained in this past Sunday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans.

The Panthers selected Zavala in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft. A hamstring injury would delay the youngster’s summer debut, as he spent the early portion of training camp on the team’s active/physically unable to perform list.

Despite that, Zavala returned in time to claim the starting job at right guard to begin the regular season. He would, however, suffer another setback—as the 6-foot-5, 332-pounder was carted off the field in the team’s Week 5 outing against the Detroit Lions with a neck injury.

Zavala would miss the next four games due to a stinger. He returned in Week 11 as the starting left guard.

Per Pro Football Focus, Zavala has allowed 33 pressures over 233 pass-blocking opportunities. His 7.1 pass-blocking grade is the worst amongst all offensive linemen who have played in at least five games this season.

As a measure of insurance for their battered interior line, which will also be without Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen, the Panthers added nine-year veteran Gabe Jackson to the practice squad.

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Panthers sign G Gabe Jackson to practice squad

With the injuries piling up along their offensive line, the Panthers have signed G Gabe Jackson to their practice squad.

In need of some help along their offensive line, the Carolina Panthers just added one of the biggest hog mollies they could find.

The team announced this afternoon that they have signed guard Gabe Jackson to their practice squad. The 6-foot-3, 335-pounder, as already reported by Bleacher Report NFL insider Jordan Schultz, had been slated for a visit today.

Jackson, a Mississippi State University product, was taken in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft by the then Oakland Raiders. The 81st overall pick went on to play seven seasons with the organization, recording 99 starts over 100 games.

He was then traded to the Seattle Seahawks following the 2020 campaign in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Jackson proceeded to start in each of his 31 games for Seattle during the 2021 and 2022 season before being released on March 10, 2023.

Not only have the Panthers lost both of their starting guards in Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen for the season, but they also saw youngsters Chandler Zavala and Cade Mays exit with injuries in this past Sunday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans.

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Best and worst PFF grades from Panthers’ Week 12 loss to Titans

Bryce Young still finished with one of the best offensive grades for the Panthers in Sunday’s loss to the Titans.

We usually put these things out much earlier in the day. But, uh, a few things kinda sorta happened this morning.

Anyway, here are the best and worst Pro Football Focus grades for the Carolina Panthers in their Week 12 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

4 key matchups for Panthers vs. Titans in Week 12

Two very big Derricks are set to clash in Nashville on Sunday.

Can the Carolina Panthers finally get back into the win column this Sunday against the host Tennessee Titans?

If they do, here are four key matchups that’ll him help notch their second victory here in Week 12:

Panthers don’t commit to starting Chandler Zavala at LG for Week 12

Panthers LG Chandler Zavala currently has a 7.2 pass-blocking grade from PFF. HC Frank Reich was non-committal about his status for Week 12.

Last Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers released starting left guard Calvin Throckmorton, giving way to rookie Chandler Zavala. Unfortunately, he’d eventually respond by giving the Dallas Cowboys a way to quarterback Bryce Young.

Zavala, per Pro Football Focus, was responsible for three of the seven sacks absorbed by Young in Sunday’s 33-10 loss to the visiting Cowboys. On Monday, head coach Frank Reich was asked if he had considered implementing a rotation at the position.

“I always talk with Campy [James Campen] beforehand like, ‘Hey, here’s the general plan.’ And we had talked about a possible rotation,” he replied. “There was, at one point, where we were gonna make a rotation then it got later in the game and in the fourth quarter. And so, in-game like that, I just kinda leave it up to the position coaches.

“We talk beforehand, spell it out clearly what we’re lookin’ for. ‘Cause they have a feel, they’re with the guys on the side, they kinda know. And a lot of times, for example, one of the guys will come up and say, ‘Hey, I’m gonna make this switch.’ And I’ll give ’em the thumbs up. That’s always kind of a week-to-week thing.”

Reich was then asked if Zavala would be getting the start against the Tennessee Titans in Week 12.

“We haven’t talked about that yet,” he responded.

The fourth-round pick has now allowed the eighth-most pressures (32) in the entire NFL despite having played in just six games. He’s also earned an almost non-existent 7.2 pass-blocking grade from PFF, by far the lowest amongst all offensive linemen who have appeared in at least five outings.

Second-year guard Cade Mays would, presumably, be the choice if Zavala does not get the nod.

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Best and worst PFF grades from Panthers’ Week 11 loss to Cowboys

Panthers CB Troy Hill earned his team’s highest PFF grade of Week 11.

How did the Carolina Panthers grade out in their ninth loss of the season?

Here are the best and worst Pro Football Focus marks from the 33-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys: