Panthers waiting for Terrace Marshall Jr. to produce

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Terrace Marshall Jr, who caught just 19 passes last year with the Carolina Panthers, is looking to boost his chances of producing with Dave Canales as head coach.

Bank of America Stadium isn’t the Carolina Panthers’ only near-term renovation project.

At the top of their pre-training camp to-do list is sparking the production of wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. The 2021 second-round draft pick has struggled to find a role, compiling 64 career catches in 36 appearances.

Marshall felt so out of place last season, his agent, Vince Taylor, approached then-general manager Scott Fitterer with a trade request.

Anywhere, but Carolina.  

"I think Terrace's agent approached Scott and said we’d like to explore [a trade],” former coach Frank Reich said last October. “We talked it through, and we have a lot of respect for Terrace and think Terrace is a good player. And at times, has played a significant role for us. But again, in the spirit of keeping all options open, Scott permitted his agent to go ahead and see what was out there."

The Panthers granted the request, but there were no takers.

Waiting for an NFL opportunity

As last season devolved into a 2-15 debacle, Marshall endured nearly two fruitless months between catches. After making an 11-yard reception in a Week 10 loss to Chicago, his next catch came on a 5-yarder in the season-ending loss to Atlanta.

The former LSU standout suffered through a lost 2023 campaign. After opening the Bryce Young era with the first unit, Marshall collected 16 catches during the opening four weeks, all losses.

In Week 5, however, Marshall dressed, but didn’t earn a snap against Detroit. He registered just three receptions the rest of the season.

After witnessing a near-complete reconstruction of the offensive coaching staff in the offseason, Marshall is playing for a third new coach in as many years. Over that span, he has produced just one touchdown catch.

New coach Dave Canales said he’s looking to spark Marshall’s performances. Now 24 years old and entering his fourth season, one of the Panthers’ biggest questions entering training camp is if Marshall finally finds opportunities to make plays.

During three levels of organized team activities and three-day mandatory minicamp, Canales last month said Marshall “had a fantastic last couple of weeks.”

Marshall needs to continue in training camp opens just to get noticed in the new-look receiver room.

Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette upgrade depth

The Panthers opened their roster restoration by trading for former Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson and drafting South Carolina standout Xavier Legette with the final pick of the first round. Does the duo immediately upgrade the receiving corps?

“Of course, having Diontae out there, he brings another element,” Canales said. “He’s special. He knows how to play the game. He’s fast, he gets it, he’s a change-of-pace, a little bit different from the guys we have.”

Johnson and Legette are expected to open 2024 in the lead rotation, along with Adam Thielen, last season’s leading receiver. Reserve Ihmir Smith-Marsette also will be looking to expand his role beyond special teams.

“Another good, solid group of guys that are executing what we want them to,” Canales said.

The Panthers on June 28 listed 12 receivers on their 90-man roster. Is there room for Marshall?

“He’s been reliable,” Canales said. “He’s doing what we’re asking him to do. He’s running the right routes. You can see that this is a big man with speed in there and I think that the more comfortable he’s getting with our system, with our concepts, the faster he looks.  

“I’m really curious to see where he takes that this year. I know he’s had a couple of years here and hasn’t really produced to the potential of what people might think, but hopefully, we’ll create an environment where he’s able to get onto our offense and show us something.”

The reclamation project continues. One of many.

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