Ricky Lee on making Panthers: ‘Another level of serenity to me’   

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Ricky Lee, an offensive tackle who played college football at North Carolina A&T, made the Carolina Panthers’ 53-player roster as an undrafted rookie free agent.

No longer dressing in the middle of the Carolina Panthers’ dressing room when 90 players often occupied the space, rookie offensive lineman Ricky Lee no longer resides on the symbolic island of NFL prospects.

Lee, who is learning to play both tackle positions, sat along the perimeter of the locker room, the mainland for the initial 53-player roster, which was announced Tuesday.

Beating long odds as an undrafted free agent, the former North Carolina A&T standout proved he belonged through training camp and preseason, carrying the HBCU banner.

“It’s still another level of serenity to me,” Lee said. “I’m honored to still be here, but you can never get too comfortable. Every day, I take it day by day still.

“I always stay humble.”

GM Scott Fitterer: ‘We like this’

The Panthers’ brass is gambling on youth. With rookie quarterback Bryce Young poised to make his first NFL start against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 10, Lee joined Nash Jensen (North Dakota State) as undrafted free agents to make the initial roster.

The Panthers on Tuesday released Cam Erving, Deonte Brown and Justin McCray, making room for the FCS prospects. General manager Scott Fitterer and the personnel staff identified an opportunity to give rookies Lee, Jensen, and Chandler Zavala time to develop alongside Young, April’s top overall draft pick. Zavala, a fourth-round draft pick, remains a candidate to start at right guard against the Falcons.

“That’s a good group; a young group,” Fitterer said of the first-year offensive linemen. “Our scouts did a good job identifying Lee and Nash and Zavala. We like this ... when you have (an offensive line) coach like James Campen, who’s really good at developing guys. We feel this is a group we can grow with going forward, especially with Bryce.

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer, who said rookie offensive tackle Ricky Lee (61) has “left-tackle feet,” needs to be become coordinated with playing on the right side, too, enhancing his role as a swing tackle.

“But, man, it’s young.”

Fitterer added the Panthers, who had an open roster spot Thursday when tight end Stephen Sullivan was placed on injured reserve, could add a veteran offensive lineman as security.

A bit of protection was added Wednesday when guard Calvin Throckmorton was claimed off waivers from the New Orleans Saints. Throckmorton arrived Thursday but did not work out. When he appeared at the practice fields, the offensive linemen took a moment from their drill work to give their new teammate an introductory embrace.

After the final hug, Throckmorton, who made 20 starts for the Saints over the last two seasons, went back to talking on his phone, while his new teammates went back to work.

A crash course at right tackle

The Panthers want more out of Lee.

Plans are in place for Lee, whom Fitterer said has “left-tackle feet,” to become coordinated with playing on the right side, too, enhancing his role as a swing tackle.
The rebranding of Lee’s on-field image commenced Thursday.

“I’m working on both sides a little bit, but still working mostly on the left,” Lee said. “Coach [Campen] moved me to the right to get me some reps there so I can get a little more comfortable. I feel good at both positions.”

With Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton entrenched as starters, the Panthers figured they had dependable bookend tackles. But Ekwonu struggled during the first two preseason outings.

Reich downplayed the performances, keeping faith in the sophomore left tackle. As a unit in the 27-0 loss to the visiting New York Jets on Aug. 12, it yielded five sacks among eight quarterback hits. Campen staged an immediate intervention, calling for an linemen-only sit-down.

For the Panthers to challenge in the 2023 NFC South, the offensive line needs to give Young time to overcome the expected growing pains of a rookie quarterback.

After taking all his preseason snaps from the left side, Lee’s on-the-job training has started.

“He’s got to learn right side as well,” Fitterer said. “Especially if he’s going to be on the active roster.”

And remain off the rookie island.

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