Carolina Panthers: Predicting the 53-man roster entering training camp

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CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 24: Luke Kuechly #59 of the Carolina Panthers gets set at the line against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Linebacker

Starters: Shaq Thompson, Luke Kuechly, David Mayo

Bench: Jared Norris, Jermaine Carter Jr., Andre Smith, Thomas Davis*

Entering the season, the Carolina Panthers will be without starting linebacker Thomas Davis who will be serving a four-game suspension. This presents a challenge for the coaching staff as the depth at the position is already inexperienced and will be tested over the first quarter of the season.

Fortunately for this defense, they will still have Luke Kuechly on the field. The former first round pick is one of the best linebackers in the game today and plays sideline to sideline covering a lot of ground quickly. The combination of him, along with Shaq Thompson and David Mayo, should be enough to get this defense by while Davis is sitting out.

However, the question is the depth and right now the team has two rookies, along with Jared Norris, who has primarily been a special teams player in his career. This is one position that it wouldn’t be a surprise if the team made a change before the start of the year and brought in a free agent.

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