Panthers training camp: Here are 5 roster battles to watch ahead of the season

The dog days of summer await the Carolina Panthers in Spartanburg, S.C., next week.

Wofford College will host the first training camp of the Frank Reich era, and the slate of a dozen practices will help mold the Panthers’ depth chart ahead of the squad’s Week 1 matchup in Atlanta against the Falcons.

Carolina will stage several roster competitions throughout the summer. And while some players will simply be competing to stick to the 53-man unit, others will be looking to win prominent jobs coming out of camp and the preseason.

Here is a breakdown of the most notable competitions entering training camp:

Wide receiver: DJ Chark vs. Jonathan Mingo vs. Terrace Marshall

With Adam Thielen earmarked as one of the three starters in 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs), this trio is competing for two starting spots. Chark, who signed a one-year, $5 million deal in March, is the early favorite to start at the Z position. Marshall, a 2021 second-round pick, is likely to face off against Mingo, this year’s second-round pick, for snaps at X.

Because Chark is signed to a short-term deal, the Panthers would probably prefer that Mingo and Marshall outperform the veteran this season and eventually make him a rotational piece in the lineup. For now though, Chark’s experience is valuable to rookie quarterback Bryce Young’s development.

Edge: Marquis Haynes vs. Yetur Gross-Matos vs. D.J. Johnson

Haynes and Gross-Matos are transitioning to outside linebacker, and they’re competing to start opposite longtime teammate, Brian Burns.

Haynes performed well throughout the offseason program, while Gross-Matos earned kudos for his work ethic and attitude toward the position switch. Still, neither player has shown the capability of playing a full-time role within the new defense.

D.J. Johnson, the third-round pick, is also a work in progress. While the Panthers have a plan in place for Johnson, he’s probably not ready for a top job as a rookie.

The Panthers could (and should) add to this group. Yannick Ngakoue and Jadeveon Clowney might be out of Carolina’s price range, but Kyle Van Noy and Carl Nassib could be cost-effective options.

For now, Haynes should be considered the top option among the incumbent group.

Nose tackle: Marquan McCall vs. John Penisini vs. Bravvion Roy

The Panthers will use multiple fronts on defense, but they’ll need a true nose tackle in odd looks.

Of the trio above, McCall — listed at 6-foot-3 and 379 pounds — has the prototypical body type for the position. The second-year defensive lineman is a massive human being, but he needs to play consistently well to earn first-team reps.

Roy is on the opposite end of the spectrum. At 6-1 and 330 pounds, Roy is undersized at the nose tackle position. He will need to make up for his lack of size with tenacity and intelligence in the middle.

Penisini is returning to the league after an early retirement sidelined him throughout last season. He has the size to play nose tackle, and he played for defensive line coach Todd Wash in Detroit. Pensini needs to impress at Wofford after missing most of the workouts during the offseason program.

Right guard: Cade Mays vs. Chandler Zavala

Mays, a second-year lineman, is getting the first crack at replacing Austin Corbett (ACL) at right guard.

Mays impressed in limited action last year, and he has the versatility to play all five spots on the line. Mays playing well throughout the summer and holding the seat warm for Corbett would be an ideal scenario for Carolina’s offensive line.

Zavala, the team’s fourth-round pick in April, could push Mays at the position. But the Panthers would probably prefer that the rookie works on the left side.

While Brady Christensen is the incumbent starting left guard, the Panthers’ brass has routinely brought up Zavala’s history of playing next to Ikem Ekwonu at N.C. State. If Christensen falters in camp or the preseason, Zavala could have a shot at one-upping him in a surprise ascension up the depth chart.

Punt returner: Raheem Blackshear vs. Damiere Byrd vs. Marquez Stevenson vs. Shi Smith

The Panthers have an interesting battle brewing here.

Blackshear is probably in the best position to make the roster of this group, but that doesn’t mean he’s the favorite to return punts. Byrd and Stevenson are career return aces, while Smith is the incumbent returner.

The winner of this battle will probably need to show some worth on offense to stick around as a returner. Blackshear is going to have a rotational role on offense, which gives him an early edge. Byrd has experience as a receiver, while Smith has caught 28 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns during the past two seasons in Carolina.

Stevenson might be the best pure returner of the group, but he has yet to show he can play receiver at the highest level.