SPARTANBURG — The Panthers released their first unofficial depth chart Tuesday, heading into this week's joint practices with and first preseason game against the Colts.
Most of the listings are as you'd imagine, based on what's happening on the practice field at training camp. Jeremy Chinn is listed as a safety, after spending last year at linebacker. There was some hedging on the part of coaches through the spring, as they wanted to make sure Chinn was comfortable at the position he played in college.
Based on what we've seen so far in camp (he had his second interception Tuesday), he is.
First-round pick Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson are listed as the starting cornerbacks, which is mildly interesting. On the first day of camp, they had Jackson and veteran A.J. Bouye working with the ones, though that was kind of a moot point.
Bouye is expected to slide inside and play nickel this year, with Jackson and Horn playing outside. But Bouye is also dealing with an injury at the moment, and isn't expected to work this week against the Colts.
The chart also lists Morgan Fox as the starting defensive end, ahead of 2020 second-round pick Yetur Gross-Matos, who started last year when he was able.
Jermaine Carter is listed as the starting middle linebacker, ahead of injured free-agent pickup Denzel Perryman.
The offensive line is listed with the five the Panthers opened camp with, with Cameron Erving at left tackle, Pat Elflein at left guard, Matt Paradis at center, John Miller at right guard and Taylor Moton at right tackle.
There has been some experimentation with Moton on the left, but they're not ready to make that move yet.
The depth chart lists two tight ends with the starting 11 on offense, and no fullback.
That means they didn't have to decide between Dan Arnold (one of the stars of camp so far as a pass-catcher) and Ian Thomas.
Recent acquisition Rod Smith's the only fullback on the roster, and he's listed with the running backs.
The backup quarterback position isn't delineated, with the chart saying P.J. Walker or Will Grier as the second behind starter Sam Darnold.
And for what it's worth, incumbent JJ Jansen is listed as the first-string long snapper, ahead of sixth-round pick Thomas Fletcher, as they compete for the one job there.
