4) Sanchez’s Second Chance

 

When cornerback Zack Sanchez arrived at Oklahoma in 2012, coaches decided to move him inside. So Sanchez redshirted while he spent the year learning nickel, a position he never ended up playing with the Sooners.

Now he’s experiencing a bit of déjà vu.

After the Panthers had used a fifth-round pick on Sanchez, they moved him to the slot in the spring. It looked like it was coming together for him at times during training camp, but he then struggled in the preseason. On Saturday, Sanchez was released, a shocker to even him.

“But I understand the business of it, so it happens. Obviously they wanted me back and obviously I’m still here, so that’s a good sign,” said Sanchez, who’s now on the practice squad.

“They want keep growing, keep being more consistent in the nickel game and outside as I get the opportunity.”

 

5) New Defensive End

 

 

For the first time in his four seasons in Carolina, general manager Dave Gettleman made a day-after-cuts waiver wire pick up. The Panthers added defensive end Lavar Edwards, who was cut by Buffalo.

A Titans’ fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft, Edwards has also spent time in Dallas and Chicago. At 6-foot-4, 275 pounds, Edwards has no sacks in 12 career games, but the Panthers feel he can improve the depth at one of their thinnest positions.

“We think he’s an explosive guy. There’s some really good film on him from Buffalo,” Rivera said. “Our scouts, Dave, (assistant general manager) Brandon Beane and that crew of men worked late last night looking for guys. So this morning when we got in, there was a list of guys and he was one of the guys that we looked at and we really felt strong about.

“We got an opportunity to bring a guy in that is a little bit different that what we have as far as the other ends are concerned.”

To make room on the roster, the Panthers released defensive end Wes Horton.

 

6) Quote of the Day

 

Safety Kurt Coleman, getting deep about the Super Bowl “rematch”:

“I’m not going to lie and say that I’m going to forget it. I think this game is not about channeling our revenge. I think that revenge is a shallow emotion. I think that when we do things in revenge, the victory isn’t as satisfying. So for us, it’s about who do we want to be this year? Who do we want to be as the 2016 Carolina Panthers and what do we want to embark on? How do we want to put our trademark on this season?”