• WR KELVIN BENJAMIN: The guy who supposedly had a problem with drops has 8 receptions and zero drops this preseason.
• WR BRENTON BERSIN: Second straight game with two receptions on two targets. Deserves more snaps with the ones.
• DE CHARLES JOHNSON: Never a Pro Bowler and not a self-marketer, but as he watched in Charlotte, his absence was obvious.
• LB LUKE KUECHLY: Gets an up arrow for pretty much the same reason as Johnson. Limited to 15 snaps, Kuechly watched, and the defense wasn’t anything close to the same.
• CB BENÉ BENWIKERE: Played ahead of Charles Godfrey and was on the field during the defense’s most-successful drives. May be time to make him the top nickel corner.
• WR JERRICHO COTCHERY: It’s not fair to pin all the blame on him, but Cotchery has no receptions in two preseason games with QB Cam Newton.
• T BYRON BELL: He wasn’t as bad as many assume, but he wasn’t good. It was the type of game those wanting him to fail have been hoping for this preseason.
• DE WES HORTON: Started in place of Johnson and failed to do much with the opportunity.
• LB A.J. KLEIN: Caught looking in the backfield moments before RB Shane Vereen zipped past him for a 40-yard touchdown. May have nudged door back open for LB Chase Blackburn, if he can return from a back injury sooner rather than later.
• S ANDERSON RUSSELL: Second straight uninspiring start. The Panthers strong safety position is not … strong. Robert Lester sprained an ankle and it’s tough to depend on Roman Harper’s return.

SNAP COUNTS

We’ll do more with snap counts during the regular season, but here’s a quick look at Friday’s tallies.

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

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