{"id":272156,"date":"2025-08-08T17:17:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T17:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/272156\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T17:17:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T17:17:13","slug":"panthers-vs-browns-7-players-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/272156\/","title":{"rendered":"Panthers vs Browns: 7 players to watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tonight, the long awaited moment will arrive when the Carolina Panthers play an actual football game<\/a>. No, really – they\u2019re going to keep score and everything! It may be preseason, but the first game is always a fun watch for even the most casual fan.<\/p>\n

This will be especially true this year, since fans are not allowed at training camp. Many are relying on the words of a handful of beat writers and livestreamed press conference tidbits to get a feel for the team, instead of being able to use their own eyes. They\u2019ve done an admirable job as the gatekeepers, but it\u2019s time to gauge for ourselves.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t been keeping up, there\u2019s a few players who fans don\u2019t know much about that have seemingly been making waves. Here\u2019s a rundown of some fresh names or players who are sitting on the roster bubble that you\u2019ll want to keep an eye out for on Friday.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Horn Jr. | Wide Receiver | #15<\/p>\n

The Panthers 6th round pick from the most recent NFL Draft has been garnering some headlines due to flashy one on one reps and talk of his \u201cgame changing speed\u201d. Horn should get plenty of opportunities on offense to make some noise as he\u2019s competing against a stacked receiver room and the Panthers will need to get a solid evaluation on the player. Horn will not only have an opportunity to stand out on offense, but he\u2019ll also likely get a few attempts on special teams to return kicks and punts.<\/p>\n

Cam Jackson | Defensive Tackle | #55<\/p>\n

While the acquisitions made in free agency to fortify the defensive line deserve a lot of the hype, they won\u2019t be the story line of the preseason if the starters are only set to play a series or two. Once starting nose tackle Bobby Brown comes out, Jackson will be the only true nose tackle left to take those reps. Can he make the most of this opportunity to prove he can be a valuable piece of depth for a defense that severely lacked it last season?<\/p>\n

Lathan Ransom | Safety | #22<\/p>\n

The Panthers 4th round pick was not the safety many expected to choose in the NFL Draft, but that has not stopped him from making a name for himself in recent practices. While veteran Nick Scott was listed as a starting safety on the first unofficial depth chart, Ransom seems to be making a strong push for the other safety spot opposite Tre\u2019von Moehrig. With a Cleveland Browns team set to start a rookie quarterback, Ransom will have about as easy of an introduction to NFL football as one could ask for. Will he take advantage?<\/p>\n

Corey Thornton | Cornerback | #31<\/p>\n

With Jayce Horn having suffered a thumb injury during a car accident on Wednesday morning, the Panthers were reminded of the importance of having depth at cornerback. According to some reports, Thornton is standing out similar to 2024 UDFAs-turned-starters Jalen Coker and Demani Richardson. The 6\u20191, 195 lb corners Thornton seems to have the size and length the Panthers covet and has looked like he belonged when facing against the Panthers starting receivers.<\/p>\n

Thomas Incoom | Outside Linebacker | #48<\/p>\n

Incoom joined the Panthers in the middle of last season, but given his pedigree, the talent around him and the overall situation of the team in 2024, it\u2019s not hard to see why he wasn\u2019t a major contributor. The Panthers likely have four outside linebackers currently as roster locks, the team may want to keep another outside linebacker or two on the 53. Right now, it looks like Incoom is making a push for that spot as he tries to unseat former 3rd round pick D.J Johnson. Can Incoom translate his success on the practice field to an actual game environment?<\/p>\n

Bam Martin-Scott | Inside Linebacker | #57<\/p>\n

After the release of Josey Jewell earlier in the offseason and a recent injury to Claudin Cherelus, the already thin linebacking corps is starting to look paper thin. If there were ever an ideal scenario for an undrafted rookie to make the team, it is this one. Martin-Scott\u2019s name has come up a few times in reports on training camp and he even snagged an interception at Fan Fest. If the aptly named linebacker can continue to build some momentum for himself by making plays on defense and showing up on special teams, he may just be able to sneak onto the roster.<\/p>\n

Ryan Fitzgerald | Kicker | #35<\/p>\n

The Panthers kicking situation has been pretty grim since the team lost Graham Gano. While they at one point had the most accurate kicker in NFL history on the team, it was still difficult to rely on him in crucial situations. Enter Fitzgerald, who did not miss a single kick in 2024 while at Florida State and is in the middle of a kicking competition to be the Panthers long-term solution. The pressure will be on for Fitzgerald to make his kicks or the Panthers will turn to veteran Matthew Wright for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n

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