Tag: Chandler Zavala

Chandler Zavala on preseason debut: I can do a lot better

For a guy who was in pads for just the second time this summer, Panthers G Chandler Zavala didn’t think he did too bad on Friday. But he also thinks he can do a lot better.

Carolina Panthers rookie guard Chandler Zavala has been in pads just twice this summer—and one of those two instances came on Friday night.

The fourth-round pick spoke to reporters on Sunday afternoon, fresh off his preseason debut in the team’s 21-19 loss to the New York Giants. When asked about his thoughts on the speed of NFL action, he didn’t seem to be fazed.

“For me, I think it’s relatively the same,” Zavala said while comparing it to his time at North Carolina State University. “In the Power Five conferences, everybody’s tryna get a job. So, everybody’s gonna play fast, just like they’re playin’ in the NFL.”

Zavala spent a pair of seasons playing in the ACC, where he earned first-team conference honors in 2022.

But now that he’s one of those guys that got himself a job in the pros, how did he feel about his overall performance on Friday?

“I performed like . . . I was okay, like for not being in pads for eight months,” he said. “Just the second day in pads, I did okay. But I can do a lot better.”

With Cade Mays out due to a neck injury, Zavala got the nod at right guard to begin the night at the Meadowlands. He played each of his 21 offensive snaps as part of the team’s starting group, and allowed zero pressures over eight chances.

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Top takeaways from Panthers’ snap counts in preseason loss to Giants

Friday night’s battle at right guard was highlighted by a pair of Panthers rookies.

Preseason games don’t count, but the snaps do. Just ask Bryce Young.

So, let’s see what we can take away from the Carolina Panthers’ snap totals from their loss to the New York Giants.

4 position battles to watch in Panthers’ preseason game vs. Giants

Here are the four most interesting position battles inside Friday night’s preseason battle between the Panthers and Giants:

On Friday night, the preseason battles will continue—not only between the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants, but between some Carolina Panthers and some other Carolina Panthers.

Let’s take a look at the four most intriguing position battles of the second exhibition of the summer:

4 most intriguing Panthers to watch in Friday’s preseason game vs. Giants

An increasingly interesting contender off the edge, OLB Eku Leota is one of four Panthers you should keep an eye on Friday night.

If you’re spending your Friday night watching preseason football, then you might as well watch it intently. So, which players are worth your attention?

Here are four Carolina Panthers to keep an eye on during Friday night’s clash with the New York Giants:

Biggest storylines for Panthers’ Week 2 preseason game vs. Giants

Will Panthers HC Frank Reich and his offensive line help Bryce Young steer a tighter ship in their second outing of the preseason?

Unsurprisingly, this week’s focus for the Carolina Panthers will be quite similar to that of last week’s. But hopefully, there’s a little more meat on the bone to take away from this preseason contest.

Here are the top storylines heading into Friday’s exhibition with the New York Giants.

Panthers may name starting RG after preseason game vs. Giants

Panthers HC Frank Reich said a decision at right guard could be made within the next week.

Who is going to be Austin Corbett’s temporary replacement at right guard? Well, we may finally find out around this time next week.

Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich spoke to reporters following Monday’s practice. When asked about figuring out their starting offensive line, he offered a possible timeframe for a decision.

“That offense—you need that chemistry, you need to get going,” he said. “But at the same time, we need to figure out who those five guys are gonna be, and it is a competitive battle inside. We’ll just continue to work towards that final five. I think here, in the next week, it should come to—hopefully—a conclusion.”

Saturday’s showing in the preseason opener didn’t provide much hope for the entire unit—let alone the one spot. Carolina allowed eight quarterback hits and five sacks in the disappointing 27-0 loss to the New York Jets

Nonetheless, Reich believes that the performance shouldn’t take away from what his hog mollies have done over the entirety of the offseason.

“Obviously, just gettin’ more consistent,” he said of what he’s looking for in the ongoing competition. “I feel like there’s been so much positive—throughout the whole OTAs and throughout all of training camp. We feel like our O-line is a strength for us. As we’re working to build that chemistry and build who that starting five is—Saturday was not a good day for us as a team. It was not a good day upfront. But that doesn’t make me waver at all in my belief in our offensive line and who we are.”

Candidates for the job may include 2022 sixth-round pick Cade Mays, veterans Justin McCray and Deonte Brown and rookies Chandler Zavala and Nash Jensen.

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Chandler Zavala returns to practice field on Saturday

Panthers fourth-round pick Chandler Zavala is hitting the practice field for the first time at training camp on Saturday.

The Carolina Panthers’ competition at right guard is about to get a bit more interesting.

As reported by Darin Gantt of Panthers.com on Saturday morning, guard Chandler Zavala has been activated from the active/physically unable to perform list and will practice today. This’ll be the first piece of on-field training camp action for the rookie, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Zavala was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft out of North Carolina State University. He—along with perceived favorite Cade Mays and veteran free-agent signing Justin McCray—were named as candidates by general manager Scott Fitterer to fill in for starter Austin Corbett during the early portion of the regular season.

“It’s a wide-open competition,” Fitterer said at the start of camp. “The good thing is we have numbers in there. We have versatility in there. Brady’s [Christensen] back, he’s fully healthy. Austin, he’s pushing to get back. He’s ahead of schedule. We’ll see what that means. We won’t know until like cut day, like where he’s at.”

Corbett, who tore his ACL in the 2022 finale against the New Orleans Saints, is expected to miss some time to begin the campaign.

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Chandler Zavala making ‘really good progress’ from hamstring injury

Panthers HC Frank Reich told reporters that fourth-round pick Chandler Zavala is making “really good progress” in his recovery from a hamstring tweak.

The Carolina Panthers’ competition at right guard has gone on without rookie Chandler Zavala. But according to head coach Frank Reich, that may change relatively soon.

On Tuesday, Reich was asked about this year’s fourth-round pick—who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. He said Zavala is coming on strong in his recovery.

“Yeah, he’s making good progress,” he said. “Actually, I think he’s made really good progress in the last couple days. And man, we’re really eager to see him get back out there. Think that he can really help us. But we don’t wanna rush it. You gotta be smart.

“So, talkin’ to our medical team this morning—maybe start to see him out on the field doin’ a little something maybe later in the week or early next week. That’s all kinda . . . we’ll wait and see. But he is making good progress.”

With usual starting right guard Austin Corbett expected to miss the early portion of the 2023 campaign while healing up from a torn ACL, the spot is currently up for grabs. And while second-year hog molly Cade Mays seems to have the inside track on the job at the moment, Zavala may have a chance to make a run in due time.

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