H5game8

Panthers release initial depth chart for Week 16 matchup vs. BuccaneersStory by

Anthony Rizzuti, Panthers WireWed, December 17, 2025 at 1:00 AM UTC·2 min read

This Sunday, the Carolina Panthers will play their most meaningful game in three years—as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming to town. Both teams sit at 7-7 and, with three weeks remaining, are tied atop the NFC South.

Carolina got their ducks in a row for the big matchup on Tuesday, with the release of their initial depth chart for Week 16.

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Here, without any changes from last week, are the ranks for this weekend . . .

Quarterback

First string: Bryce Young
Second string: Andy Dalton

Running back

First string: Rico Dowdle
Second string: Chuba Hubbard
Third string: Trevor Etienne

Wide receiver

First string: Xavier Legette, Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker
Second string: Jimmy Horn Jr., Brycen Tremayne, Hunter Renfrow

Tight end

First string: Ja'Tavion Sanders
Second string: Tommy Tremble
Third string: Mitchell Evans
Fourth string: James Mitchell

Left tackle

First string: Ikem Ekwonu

Left guard

First string: Damien Lewis
Second string: Jake Curhan

Center

First string: Cade Mays
Second string: Nick Samac

Right guard

First string: Austin Corbett
Second string: Jake Curhan

Right tackle

First string: Taylor Moton
Second string: Yosh Nijman

Defensive end

First string: Derrick Brown, Tershawn Wharton
Second string: LaBryan Ray, Bobby Brown III
Third string: Jared Harrison-Hunte

Defensive tackle

First string: A'Shawn Robinson
Second string: Cam Jackson

Outside linebacker

First string: D.J. Wonnum, Nic Scourton
Second string: Princely Umanmielen, Thomas Incoom
Third string: Trevis Gipson

Inside linebacker

First string: Christian Rozeboom, Trevin Wallace
Second string: Bam Martin-Scott, Claudin Cherelus
Third string: Maema Njongmeta, Krys Barnes

Cornerback

First string: Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson
Second string: Chau Smith-Wade, Akayleb Evans
Third string: Robert Rochell

Safety

First string: Tre'von Moehrig, Nick Scott
Second string: Demani Richardson, Lathan Ransom

Kick returner

First string: Trevor Etienne
Second string: Chuba Hubbard
Third string: Rico Dowdle
Fourth string: Jimmy Horn Jr.

Punt returner

First string: Trevor Etienne
Second string: Hunter Renfrow
Third string: Jimmy Horn Jr.

Kicker

First string: Ryan Fitzgerald

Punter

First string: Sam Martin

Long snapper

First string: JJ Jansen

Carolina nearly went into this past Sunday's tilt with the New Orleans Saints at full strength. But that changed on Saturday, when starting defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton was added to the injury report due to a hamstring issue.

Per head coach Dave Canales, Wharton tweaked his hamstring when he stepped on a teammate during the final walkthrough. He did not appear in the 20-17 loss the next day.