Tag: Donte Jackson

Analysis: Stephon Gilmore brings experience, skill to Panthers

Here’s our projected outlook at the Panthers’ cornerbacks for the remainder of this season (and beyond) following the Stephon Gilmore news.

When Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer told reporters he would “be in on every deal” earlier this year, he wasn’t joking around.

Last week, a significant injury exposed the lack of depth in Carolina’s secondary. With 2021 eighth overall pick Jaycee Horn sustaining a right foot injury that sent him to injured reserve, speculation arose around how the team would fill the major void.

That hole lasted four days. The day the team placed Horn on IR, they traded for second-year cornerback C.J. Henderson, a young and talented prospect the organization has been eyeing since the 2020 pre-draft process.

Today, though, the Panthers made an even bigger splash in the trade market, acquiring corner Stephon Gilmore from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick. Beyond just replacing Horn for what could be the remainder of the campaign, Carolina is improving their secondary enough to win now and in the future.

Including the newest additions, names like Donte Jackson and A.J. Bouye are in the exciting mix as well, highlighting the team’s defensive backfield. With injuries, though, each player figures to see the field on a different timetable.

Here’s our projected outlook for the Panthers’ cornerbacks for the remainder of this season and beyond.

Right now: Youth takes over on the outsides

Active: A.J. Bouye, C.J. Henderson, Donte Jackson, Keith Taylor Jr., Rashaan Melvin, Stantley Thomas-Oliver III

Starters: Donte Jackson (outside), C.J. Henderson (outside), A.J. Bouye (slot)

Inactive: Jaycee Horn (injured reserve), Myles Hartsfield (injured reserve), Stephon Gilmore (PUP)

Analysis: The loss of Horn will hurt the Panthers badly, at least for now. With the newly-acquired Gilmore on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list until at least Week 7, the team must rely on the inexperienced but talented Henderson to hold down the fort opposite Jackson.

So far, the defense has rotated players like Taylor and Melvin at that position, but Rhule should begin relying more heavily on Henderson as he continues to get acclimated to Carolina’s system.

The veteran Bouye has played primarily in the slot, leading the team with 23 snaps at nickel in the team’s Week 4 loss to Dallas. We expect him to stay there despite recent injuries.

Later in the season: The first return from injury

Active: A.J. Bouye, C.J. Henderson, Donte Jackson, Keith Taylor Jr., Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, Stephon Gilmore

Starters: Donte Jackson (outside), Stephon Gilmore (outside), A.J. Bouye (slot)

Inactive: Jaycee Horn (injured reserve), Myles Hartsfield (injured reserve)

Analysis: With Gilmore elevated to the active roster from the PUP list, we project the team to send Melvin back to the practice squad.

Gilmore, once healthy, should take over Henderson’s spot as the primary starter opposite Jackson. We could, still, continue to see a rotation at the position based on matchups and game flow.

With players getting healthy midway through, Carolina has the potential to continue having one of the premier cornerback groups in the league heading into the postseason, should they qualify.

The offseason: Two top corners could hit the market

On the roster: A.J. Bouye, C.J. Henderson, Corn Elder, Jaycee Horn, Keith Taylor Jr., Madre Harper, Myles Hartsfield, Rashaan Melvin, Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, Troy Pride, Jr.

Pending free agents: Donte Jackson (UFA), Rashaan Melvin (UFA), Stephon Gilmore (UFA)

Analysis: This offseason, the Panthers have a pair of notable unrestricted free agents.

The team may try to retain both, with Jackson likely being a priority. We noted Jackson as a contract extension candidate this past offseason, so the Panthers should hope his price tag doesn’t see a significant increase now that they’ve waited an extra year. As for Gilmore, the two sides are reportedly content with letting the 2021 season play out.

The team should also get Horn and Hartsfield back from temporary injured reserve late into the season, with Pride, Jr. on season-ending injured reserve and looking to rejoin the team during the offseason. Harper and Elder are on the Panthers’ practice squad right now, so they could have a chance to compete for a roster spot this offseason, too.

Between Jackson’s strong start to the season and Fitterer’s magic working the phone lines, the Panthers could have one of the league’s scariest defenses that keeps getting better every week, especially as young players develop and injured ones continue to heal.

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4 takeaways from the Panthers’ 24-9 win over Texans

Through their three victories to start 2021, the Panthers defense is allowing just 9.7 points and 191 yards per game.

You wouldn’t have known by the overall feel of Thursday night’s outing that the Carolina Panthers moved to 3-0.

Well, they did.

So through the good and the bad of their trip to Houston, here are four takeaways from the consequential Week 3 victory.

Panthers tab team captains for 2021 season

The Panthers will have six new team captains for the 2021 season.

The Carolina Panthers officially named their team captains for the 2021 season on Thursday afternoon. And with a roster mainly compromised of new, young, budding talent comes a fresh batch of leaders.

Of the eight players who will don the patch, six will be first-time captains for the Panthers. Those men include quarterback Sam Darnold, center Matt Paradis, right tackle Taylor Moton, defensive end Brian Burns, cornerback Donte Jackson and long snapper J.J. Jansen.

Jansen’s inclusion is, perhaps, the most feel-good one of the bunch considering his standing within the organization. The 35-year-old, who is the oldest and longest-tenured player on the team, has finally earned the distinction upon entering his 13th year with the franchise.

For Darnold and Paradis, this won’t be their first rodeo with the patch in the NFL, as they’ve served as captains at their previous stops in New York and Denver. For Moton, Burns and Jackson, this signifies a vote of confidence as they’ll be looked upon as the long-term leaders moving forward.

Running back Christian McCaffrey and linebacker Shaq Thompson round out the eight. It’ll be their third and second seasons, respectively, as Carolina captains.

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6 (kinda) bold predictions for the 2021 Carolina Panthers

Brian Burns is set for a monstrous season, but how monstrous will it be? We’re forecasting a bunch of sacks, and five more (kinda) bold predictions for the 2021 Panthers.

Making “bold” predictions is just so . . . old. It’s cliché, it’s overdone, it’s boring.

Instead, let’s start a new trend. Let’s throw a little spice in the pot, shall we?

So, with this being the last Sunday without football, here are six kinda (there’s the spice!) bold predictions for the 2021 Carolina Panthers season.

4 takeaways from the Panthers’ 34-9 win vs. Steelers

Is . . . is Sam Darnold about to be resurrected by Matt Rhule, Joe Brady and the Carolina Panthers?

Carolina Panthers fans came for quarterback Sam Darnold in the team’s preseason finale on Friday night. And, boy, did they get him.

Darnold was impressive, and we’ll obviously get to that here. But there were also three more notable takeaways from the 34-9 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.

Here they are.

Watch: Panthers great Greg Olsen gives team a heartfelt speech

Former Panthers TE Greg Olsen is now “that old guy” talking up the young players at practice.

Carolina Panthers legends Luke Kuechly and Greg Olsen didn’t come to the team practice on Wednesday just to pal around. Ok, maybe a little. But there was business to take of.

Part of that business came in the form of a heartfelt speech by Olsen, who spent nine years as a respected leader on and off the field in Charlotte. He dropped some life experience on the largely young and unproven group of players, telling them what it means to grow and win together as part of the Panthers organization.

Other than the greater message, two little nuggets of note came out of his talk.

One, Olsen sure does love him some Donte Jackson. And two, he’ll be in the broadcast booth for Fox when the Panthers travel to take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4.

Maybe by then, he’ll be calling a touchdown catch for the new No. 88 in Carolina, Terrace Marshall Jr., in what could be a surreal moment. Plus, it must feel kind of good that his old number was given away to an actual human being . . .

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Watch: Panthers WR DJ Moore bigs up Robby Anderson’s extension at practice

Panthers WR DJ Moore was trying to make Robby Anderson feel like a million (or $30 million) bucks.

What are best friends for? Talking you up and making you feel like a million (or almost $30 million) bucks, that’s what.

Carolina Panthers wideout DJ Moore, suffice to say, was more than happy for fellow receiver, teammate and good bud Robby Anderson today. Moore, usually the low-key and reserved type, had no problems letting the people know that his boy has officially secured the bag.

Earlier in the afternoon, Anderson and the Panthers agreed to a two-year extension that’ll keep the 28-year-old in Charlotte through 2023. The deal is worth $29.5 million, with $20.5 million in guarantees.

His special day continued onto the practice field, where he’s put on quite the show. One catch, in particular, traveled to Anderson’s hand . . . then cornerback Donte Jackson’s foot . . . and then Anderson’s hand again.

 

So, it seems like it’s just Robby’s day.

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Watch: Panthers players react to painfully bad dad jokes

What did the Carolina Panther say to the bad dad joke? Me-ouch.

What did the Panther say to the bad dad joke? Me-ouch.

*cringes*

Well, the Carolina Panthers social media team, perhaps the most hip crowd of any such group in any of the major sports, went full cornball mode during training camp and offered up their players some of the worst dad jokes known to man. Here were the results:

Oof.

Well, at least some of the guys were genuinely entertained . . . or at least acted nice and pretended to be. (We’re looking at you Donte Jackson, Jeremy Chinn and Sam Darnold.)

Hey, ya know what? While we’re here, let’s try out some new material, shall we?

What did the Panthers head coach say to the assistant who wouldn’t listen to him? You’re over-Rhuled!

How did Christian McCaffrey get home after his car broke down? By running back.

Why does Sir Purr try to avoid Robby Anderson? Because he can’t bear to see him.

* . . . looks on hopelessly for approval*

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What we learned from Panthers GM Scott Fitterer on Wednesday

According to Carolina Panthers GM Scott Fitterer on Wednesday, another player is now in line for a fresh contract extension.

Since coming through the door, Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer has been as detailed and concise as you hope a person in his position could be. He’s been a breath of fresh air at the helm of the front office, consistently providing honest looks into his and the team’s thought processes.

Wednesday was no different, when he stood in front of reporters at Wofford College following the first of two joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens. Here’s some of the more notable takeaways we got fro Fitterer’s talk.

Panthers Preseason: All expected starters don’t dress vs. Colts

You’ll have to wait another week to see at least some of the Carolina Panthers’ Sunday best.

Sorry, Carolina Panthers fans. But you’ll have to wait at least another week to see your team’s Sunday best. Every. Single. One.

As expected, head coach Matt Rhule opted not to roll out any projected regular season starters this afternoon against the Indianapolis Colts. The team released its starting lineup an hour before kickoff while also confirming its headliners will not be dressed. So that means civilian clothes for:

Sam Darnold, Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Dan Arnold, Ian Thomas, Cameron Erving, Taylor Moton, Pat Elflein, John Miller, Matt Paradis, Brian Burns, Morgan Fox, Derrick Brown, DaQuan Jones, Shaq Thompson, Jermaine Carter Jr., Haason Reddick, Jaycee Horn, Donte Jackson, Jeremy Chinn and Juston Burris.

Also not in uniform will be the crop of running backs Rodney Smith and Reggie Bonnafon, center Mike Panasiuk and defensive tackle Caraun Reid. They will each be inactive due to injury.

Wide receiver Keith Kirkwood, offensive lineman Dennis Daley, cornerback A.J. Bouye, safety Myles Hartfield and linebackers Denzel Perryman, Julian Stanford and Clay Johnston are inactive as well and did not travel with the team.

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