Carolina’s panthers depth chart has undergone an important change heading into Week 3 after Jonathon Brooks was placed on injured reserve following his latest groin injury. The move came one day after Carolina released its initial Week 3 lineup for the road matchup against Cleveland.
The published Week 3 chart showed no changes from the previous week. However, Brooks’ placement on injured reserve on September 23 has changed the practical picture at RB. Chuba Hubbard remains the top option, while AJ Dillon now becomes the next available veteran behind him.
Carolina enters the week after a commanding 34-3 victory over Atlanta. Bryce Young threw for 287 yards and three TDs in that game, while the defense produced five takeaways. The Panthers now prepare for Cleveland on September 27.
Bryce Young Remains the Starting QB
Bryce Young continues to lead Carolina’s QB room.
The 2026 season has started with Young firmly established at the top of the lineup. Kenny Pickett remains the No. 2 QB, while Haynes King is listed third.
Young delivered one of his strongest performances of the early season in Atlanta. He completed the game with 287 passing yards and three TDs as Carolina pulled away from the Falcons.
His position on the current chart is unchanged entering Week 3.
The Panthers have also benefited from improved production on deeper throws during the opening two games. That development has helped create more opportunities for the WR group.
For now, the QB order is straightforward:
- QB1: Bryce Young
- QB2: Kenny Pickett
- QB3: Haynes King
There has been no announced change to that order heading into Cleveland.
Chuba Hubbard Takes Center Stage at RB
The biggest development on the current lineup involves the RB position.
Chuba Hubbard remains the starter. Jonathon Brooks had been listed directly behind him on the official Week 3 chart, with AJ Dillon third.
That arrangement changed after Brooks was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.
Brooks left the Atlanta game after aggravating a groin issue. He is now expected to miss multiple weeks following the latest setback.
That leaves Hubbard in the most prominent position in Carolina’s backfield.
Dillon becomes especially important because he was already listed behind Hubbard and Brooks. His experience gives Carolina an established option while Brooks is unavailable.
The current situation can be summarized as follows:
| RB position | Player |
|---|---|
| First | Chuba Hubbard |
| Next available | AJ Dillon |
| Injured reserve | Jonathon Brooks |
Brooks had received an important role during the opening weeks after returning to the lineup. His latest injury now forces Carolina to adjust its RB rotation.
The Panthers have also explored additional RB options after the injury. Austin Ekeler worked out for the team Wednesday, but no signing had been confirmed at the time of the latest update.
Jonathon Brooks Move Is the Biggest Current Change
Brooks’ injured-reserve designation is the most significant development affecting Carolina’s current lineup.
The third-year RB had entered the season with expectations of providing another major option alongside Hubbard. His availability had already been closely watched after previous injury setbacks.
Brooks appeared in Carolina’s first two games before leaving the Atlanta matchup with the latest groin problem.
He is now unavailable for the upcoming Cleveland game.
The roster move also created an opening that Carolina filled by promoting safety and special teams player Isaiah Simmons from the practice squad.
That transaction does not directly change the starting lineup at RB, but it changes the 53-man roster around the current chart.
Tetairoa McMillan Continues as a Key WR
Tetairoa McMillan remains one of Carolina’s primary WRs.
The rookie is listed first at one outside WR spot, with Brycen Tremayne behind him. Jalen Coker occupies another WR position, while Xavier Legette remains the starter at the other outside spot.
John Metchie III is listed behind Legette.
The current WR structure is:
- Tetairoa McMillan
- Jalen Coker
- Xavier Legette
- John Metchie III
- Brycen Tremayne
McMillan continued to make an impact against Atlanta. He recorded another 100-yard performance, adding to his strong start.
Legette also produced an important big play in the 34-3 victory.
Coker has provided value beyond the traditional WR role. His work as a returner in Atlanta also affected Carolina’s special-teams plans entering Week 3.
Jalen Coker Adds Another Dimension
Coker has become particularly important because of his versatility.
He remains listed as a starting WR, but he also handled punt-return responsibilities during the Atlanta game.
Coker produced two punt returns for 49 yards, including a 36-yard return.
That performance created an interesting distinction between the official lineup and actual game usage. John Metchie III remains listed first at PR on the official chart, but Coker has already demonstrated that he can handle the responsibility.
Carolina added another familiar option when it brought Ihmir Smith-Marsette onto the practice squad on September 22.
Smith-Marsette has previous experience with the Panthers and has worked as a returner during his NFL career.
Tight End Group Has Significant Depth
Tommy Tremble remains the first TE on the current lineup.
Mitchell Evans is next, followed by veteran Darren Waller. Ja’Tavion Sanders and Feleipe Franks round out the listed group.
The order gives Carolina several options at the position.
Waller was especially productive in Atlanta. He caught two TD passes during Carolina’s dominant win.
The current TE order is:
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| TE1 | Tommy Tremble |
| TE2 | Mitchell Evans |
| TE3 | Darren Waller |
| TE4 | Ja’Tavion Sanders |
| TE5 | Feleipe Franks |
That depth gives the Panthers multiple options for different offensive packages.
Offensive Line Remains Stable
Carolina’s starting offensive line remains unchanged on the current Week 3 chart.
Rasheed Walker is listed at LT. Damien Lewis remains at LG, Luke Fortner is the C, Robert Hunt is the RG and Monroe Freeling is the RT.
Stone Forsythe provides depth at both tackle positions, while Albert Reese is also listed as a tackle option.
Sam Hecht is behind Fortner at C, and Corey Bullock is listed behind Hunt at RG.
The current offensive-line arrangement is:
- LT: Rasheed Walker
- LG: Damien Lewis
- C: Luke Fortner
- RG: Robert Hunt
- RT: Monroe Freeling
The stability up front gives Young the same basic starting structure heading into Cleveland.
Defensive Line Features Derrick Brown
Derrick Brown remains one of the central pieces of Carolina’s defensive front.
Bobby Brown III and Lee Hunter are also listed among the first defensive-line options.
TeRah Edwards, Cam Jackson and Aaron Hall provide additional depth at the position.
Lee Hunter has continued to occupy an important spot on the defensive chart after entering the season with a prominent role.
The Panthers also have players on reserve lists who are not currently available for the opening portion of the season.
The active depth therefore needs to be viewed separately from players who remain unavailable because of reserve designations.
Patrick Jones II and Jaelan Phillips Lead the OLB Group
Patrick Jones II remains the first player listed at one OLB position.
Trevis Gipson and Thomas Incoom provide additional depth there.
Jaelan Phillips is listed at the other OLB position, with Princely Umanmielen behind him.
The current OLB order is:
- Patrick Jones II
- Trevis Gipson
- Thomas Incoom
- Jaelan Phillips
- Princely Umanmielen
Carolina has dealt with some injury questions around the group, making the backup positions important as Week 3 approaches.
The Panthers will continue monitoring player availability during the practice week before the Cleveland game.
Devin Lloyd Leads the LB Group
Devin Lloyd remains one of the starting LBs.
Jackson Kuwatch and Tyrel Dodson are listed behind him.
Bobby Okereke holds the other starting LB position, with Claudin Cherelus behind him.
Lloyd had a standout performance against Atlanta. He finished the game with nine tackles, two INTs, a sack and two tackles for loss. One of his INTs became a TD return.
That performance helped Carolina hold Atlanta to only three points.
The current LB structure is:
| LB position | First listed | Next listed |
|---|---|---|
| LB | Devin Lloyd | Jackson Kuwatch, Tyrel Dodson |
| LB | Bobby Okereke | Claudin Cherelus |
The Panthers will continue to watch availability around the group because several defensive players have appeared on recent injury reports.
Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Anchor the CB Group
Mike Jackson and Jaycee Horn remain Carolina’s first-listed CBs.
Chau Smith-Wade and Akayleb Evans provide depth behind Jackson, while Will Lee III is listed behind Horn.
The CB structure has not undergone a major change on the Week 3 chart.
That gives Carolina a defined first group heading into the Cleveland matchup.
At safety, Tre’von Moehrig remains the first option at one position, while Nick Scott is listed at the other.
Zakee Wheatley and Lathan Ransom are the respective backups.
Safety Group Adds Isaiah Simmons
Isaiah Simmons became a current roster name on Wednesday after Carolina promoted him from the practice squad.
Simmons is listed on the team’s roster following the Brooks transaction.
His promotion gives Carolina another player with experience at safety and special teams.
The move came as the Panthers dealt with one roster opening created by Brooks’ placement on injured reserve.
It does not mean Simmons has replaced a current starting safety. Rather, his promotion provides additional depth and special-teams experience.
Special Teams Remain Clearly Defined
JJ Jansen remains the LS.
Sam Martin continues as the P and H.
Ryan Fitzgerald is the K.
John Metchie III remains the first listed KR and PR, followed by Xavier Legette and Chuba Hubbard.
However, the return picture has more detail than the published order suggests.
Coker returned punts successfully against Atlanta. His 36-yard return was one of the notable special-teams plays from the game.
The Panthers also added Smith-Marsette to the practice squad before the Brooks transaction.
That move gives Carolina another experienced return option as the team prepares for Cleveland.
What the Latest Lineup Means for Week 3
The main starting positions have remained stable.
Young is still the QB.
Hubbard remains the primary RB.
McMillan, Coker and Legette remain key WR options.
Tremble leads the TE group.
The offensive line also remains intact from the published Week 3 chart.
Defensively, Brown, Hunter, Lloyd, Okereke, Phillips, Horn, Jackson, Moehrig and Scott remain among the primary names listed at their respective positions.
The biggest change is the availability of Brooks.
His move to injured reserve means Carolina must operate without one of its top listed RBs for the coming stretch.
Dillon is therefore positioned to have a larger role behind Hubbard.
The Panthers’ decision to work out Ekeler also shows that the organization is examining its available options at RB. No addition had been confirmed from that workout in the latest update.
Current Lineup at a Glance
For readers following Carolina heading into Week 3, the latest published lineup can be summarized this way:
Offense
- QB: Bryce Young
- RB: Chuba Hubbard
- WR: Tetairoa McMillan
- WR: Jalen Coker
- WR: Xavier Legette
- TE: Tommy Tremble
- LT: Rasheed Walker
- LG: Damien Lewis
- C: Luke Fortner
- RG: Robert Hunt
- RT: Monroe Freeling
Defense
- DL: Bobby Brown III
- DL: Lee Hunter
- DL: Derrick Brown
- OLB: Patrick Jones II
- LB: Devin Lloyd
- LB: Bobby Okereke
- OLB: Jaelan Phillips
- CB: Mike Jackson
- CB: Jaycee Horn
- S: Tre’von Moehrig
- S: Nick Scott
Special Teams
- K: Ryan Fitzgerald
- P: Sam Martin
- LS: JJ Jansen
- KR: John Metchie III
- PR: John Metchie III
Jonathon Brooks remains listed on the published online chart because that chart was released before his injured-reserve move. His roster status is now the newer development and should be treated as the current situation heading into Sunday.
The Week 3 Picture Is Taking Shape
Carolina heads into Week 3 with most of its starting structure intact after the dominant Atlanta victory.
Young remains in charge of the offense, while Hubbard is positioned to handle a larger share of the RB workload following Brooks’ injury.
The WR group continues to feature McMillan, Coker and Legette, while Waller gives the offense another established receiving option at TE.
The defense also enters the week with a defined starting structure following its five-takeaway performance against Atlanta.
The Panthers will travel to Cleveland for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday, September 27. The latest lineup could still change before game day because injury reports and roster moves can affect active status.
For now, Brooks’ move to injured reserve is the major update surrounding Carolina’s lineup, while the rest of the published Week 3 structure remains largely intact.
What do you think of Carolina’s latest lineup heading into Week 3? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay informed as the Panthers’ roster continues to develop.