Panthers players who could make the biggest impression when training camp begins this week
The Carolina Panthers start reporting back to training camp on Tuesday with the first practice open to the public scheduled for July 31. Here are four players who could make big impressions.
The Carolina Panthers return for training camp this week, with rookies reporting back to the team facilities on Tuesday while veterans expected to be back on Wednesday. Open practice for the public is set for July 31 at Bank of America Stadium.
Every year at training camp, certain players make a name for themselves and we tend to call those players “Training Camp Darlings.” Sometimes that hype and momentum carries over into the regular season and those players become vital pieces to the team.
Last year, the Panthers had several players I would consider “Training Camp Darlings” in cornerback Corey Thornton, safety Lathan Ransom, and wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. that impressed and earned spots on the 53-man roster. They even proved to be capable starters for the team during the regular season.
Here are the four candidates I expect will become the team’s “Training Camp Darlings” in 2026. Note: For this list, I am picking one player in each of the four categories (returning veteran, new veteran, rookie, undrafted rookie) that I believe aren’t getting enough attention.
Carolina Panthers players who could impress the most at training camp that aren’t getting enough attention
Returning Veteran: TE Tommy Tremble
Veteran tight end Tommy Tremble got a boost of confidence heading into summer break when head coach Dave Canales admitted he expects “to see great things from” Tremble when the pads come on in training camp. Tight end has been a sour subject for Panthers fans all offseason long and some encouraging reports around Tremble could quiet things down.
The opportunity is certainly there and Tremble is back to being fully healthy, even with Ja’Tavion Sanders as the projected leader in the room. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tremble turns some heads over the next month and into the preseason.
New Veteran: WR John Metchie III
People still forget that the Panthers added this guy to the roster this offseason. John Metchie III was a productive pass catcher for quarterback Bryce Young during their time at Alabama, but had a slow start to his NFL career due to situations outside of his control. The connection the two share is real, and it’ll be noticeable on the field when they actually get the opportunity to work together.
“Once the receiver and the QB get that connection, that connection can’t be broken,” WR David Moore explained of Metchie and Young. “It doesn’t matter if you play with him for three years, two years, and then don’t see him again for however long; that’s his case. Once you get the timing of that QB, he doesn’t slack off, and you don’t slack off, and y’all keep doing it, then y’all will get back together, and it’ll be like clockwork.”
Rookie Draft Pick: DT Lee Hunter
I considered putting CB Will Lee III or S Zakee Wheatley in this spot, but I truthfully have no idea how Ejiro Evero plans to deploy his secondary personnel. The easy answer for finding a standout rookie to watch in camp is defensive tackle Lee Hunter.
Off size alone, Hunter will be a hard man to miss on the practice field. With Turk Wharton expected to be sidelined still following his neck surgery, first-team opportunities will be open for Hunter to line up alongside Derrick Brown. Expect to see Hunter bullying his way into the backfield and frustrating Young a lot over the next few weeks.
Undrafted Rookie: QB Haynes King
Another easy decision with this one. Quarterback Haynes King was always going to be an exciting player to watch at training camp and now will have more opportunities to get involved following the retirement of veteran backup Will Grier.
Haynes will also get ample work running the offense during the four preseason games, starting with the Hall of Fame Game against the Arizona Cardinals on August 6. It’s worth noting that dual-threat QBs are a pain to deal with this time of year, which bodes well for King’s chances of standing out even more.