Part 2 of a position-by-position Panthers’ training camp preview. Who’s a lock, who will be in a battle and who’s a long shot?
No Panthers receiver has caught more passes than tight end Greg Olsen since Steve Smith in 2012. After breaking his own record for catches by a tight end in 2013 (73), Olsen did it again last season (84). Coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance, he now enters his fifth year as quarterback Cam Newton’s favorite security blanket.Five other tight ends are currently on the roster, which will probably be two too many come cut time:
| Name | Year | Games/Starts | Age | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richie Brockel | 5 | 47/2 | 28 | 6-1 | 255 |
| Jamie Childers | 1 | 0 | 27 | 6-4 | 250 |
| Ed Dickson | 6 | 76/54 | 27 | 6-4 | 255 |
| Greg Olsen | 9 | 126/100 | 30 | 6-5 | 253 |
| Scott Simonson | 1 | 4/0 | 23 | 6-5 | 250 |
| Brandon Williams | 3 | 23/0 | 27 | 6-4 | 255 |
Locked In
Olsen, Ed DicksonThe Panthers gave Dickson a new three-year deal this spring, so it’s clear they again hope to pair him with Olsen in a two-tight end passing attack. That was the plan in 2014 until fullback Mike Tolbert went down in Week 3. Once Tolbert returned, Dickson shed his extra blocking responsibilities and totaled seven receptions, 128 yards and a touchdown in Carolina’s final six games (including playoffs).
Facing a Fight
Richie Brockel, Brandon WilliamsBrockel is listed as a tight end, but he’s really a tight end/fullback hybrid who caught just four passes his first four seasons. He could be pushed for a spot by undrafted fullback Lee Ward. The Williams project has come along slowly, so this is another big camp for the specimen nicknamed “Swole Bones.” After catching eight balls the last two preseasons, Williams’ regular season total is half of that.
Long Shots
Jamie Childers, Scott SimonsonChilders, a former Coastal Carolina quarterback, is with his fourth team. Simonson spent most of last season on the Raiders’ practice squad. It’s unlikely either will make it through final cuts.
Coming Sunday: Quarterbacks