Panthers HC Dave Canales: 'You can't replace Sam Franklin'

Replacing Sam Franklin Jr. won’t be an easy task for the Carolina Panthers. Heck, it may be impossible.

On Monday, head coach Dave Canales revealed to reporters that the fifth-year safety sustained a broken foot during this past weekend’s Back Together Saturday outing. He was asked how he’ll look to fill the void left by the valuable special teams ace and his injury.

“You can’t replace Sam Franklin,” Canales replied. “But this is a great opportunity for guys to step up. The inside linebacker room has a bunch of guys who can help us. You got Chandler Wooten, you got Claudin Cherelus, you got Tae Davis in there. Of course, talked about Trevin Wallace. So you got a real group there.

“Nick Scott, Alex Cook. D’Shawn Jamison is a fantastic gunner. Dicaprio Bootle was also able to do a couple of things. Mike Boone—on offense—he runs the ball the right way and he’s versatile on special teams.

“So there’s guys that can find a role for themselves on special teams. And really, that’s a great way to make the 53—to make an impact on these practices first. And then, of course, as we hit preseason opportunities, to be able to step up in that role.”

That role has seen Franklin Jr. serve as the heart and soul of the special teams unit. An undrafted free agent back in 2020, the Temple University product carved out a place in Carolina—as he’s played in at least 70 percent of the Panthers’ special teams snaps between the last two seasons.

Canales continued.

“But Sam certainly is a special player,” he added. “Not just from a standpoint in the impact he makes, but also just his juice, his personality. He’s one of my guys.”

The severity of Franklin Jr.’s fracture has not been made available.