Breaking down Carolina Panthers’ inside linebacker depth chart for 2024 training camp

As the Carolina Panthers check off the days until training camp , The Observer is dissecting their roster one positional unit at a time.

After analyzing the defensive line , our series turns to the inside linebacker position.

The big question: Can Shaq Thompson return to form after brutal season-ending injury?

Shaq Thompson has been a longtime captain of the defense in Carolina. And the team clearly missed him throughout last season after he sustained a season-ending leg injury in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints.

With the entire defensive staff returning to the organization amid a regime change, Thompson’s return to the lineup will also be critical.

The team lost Frankie Luvu to free agency, and he was subsequently replaced by veteran Josey Jewell, who worked with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and inside linebackers coach Peter Hansen in Denver in 2022.

The Panthers are counting on the experienced duo of Thompson and Jewell to make up for the versatility void created by Luvu’s departure.

But in order for Thompson to lead the defense, he will need to regain his form from last year’s training camp. The 30-year-old linebacker appeared to be a solid fit for Evero’s defense, and the team wasn’t able to get a long enough glimpse of that synergy because of the leg injury.

Now, Thompson will look to make the most of his second chance in the system and have a strong summer with a sense of continuity.

The Panthers’ ILB depth chart

▪ The projected starters: Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell — Thompson and Jewell are a pair of smart, veteran linebackers who can relay the defensive play calls to the rest of the group. Thompson’s trademark speed has somewhat waned in recent years, but he is still a playmaker who can cover and stop the run with regularity when healthy. Jewell is a steady presence behind the defensive line, and he can do a bit of everything with his understated athleticism.

This duo, on paper, could make up for its lack of top-tier speed with their shared understanding of the scheme.

▪ The future: Trevin Wallace — This year’s third-round pick is an athletic freak who filled up the stat sheet while at Kentucky. The rookie linebacker looked smooth and fast during the offseason program, but his true test will take place when the pads come on and bodies start flying around the practice field in training camp. Wallace appears to be the heir apparent to Thompson in the lineup.

▪ The competition: Michael Barrett , Chandler Wooten, Claudin Cherelus, Tae Davis and Jackson Mitchell — Behind Thompson, Jewell and Wallace, the competition at inside linebacker should be wide open.

Barrett, the team’s seventh-round pick , has a Day 3 selection advantage going into the summer. But Wooten, Cherelus and Davis have all played in the system before, and all three players are established standouts on special teams. Barrett will need to hang with that trio during training camp and the preseason to latch onto a 53-man roster spot. That path isn’t as clear as some may think.

Mitchell is an interesting undrafted rookie who could surprise some during camp and become a dark horse for a roster spot. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see the Panthers add to this depth chart during the summer.

Player to watch in camp: Trevin Wallace

The Panthers went into the draft with the idea that they wanted to find long-term solutions for potential short-term problems . With Thompson and Jewell already over the age of 30, Carolina needed to add depth and youth at the inside linebacker position.

Wallace was selected on Day 2 to eventually become a key cog for the defense. The 6-foot-1, 237-pound linebacker had a strong career with the Wildcats, as he filled up box scores with regularity . While he’s still just 21 years old, Wallace should have a steady ascension up the depth chart with Jewell and Thompson there to guide him early in his career.

Wallace’s first training camp will offer a glimpse into what role he could maintain as a rookie. Given his size and speed (4.51-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine), he could be an ideal dime linebacker on third downs. He could also make up for Luvu’s loss with his ability to blitz the quarterback in obvious passing down packages.

Wallace will have some time to settle in. But with Thompson’s injury history, the team would probably like to see early signs of growth during camp and the preseason.