Carolina Panthers rookie Albert Reese IV  aims to make cut 

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Carolina Panthers right tackle Albert Reese IV (76) earned the start in the preseason finale against the Houston Texans on Aug. 28, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium. Reese, an undrafted rookie, is trying to earn a spot on the initial 53-player roster.

Nearly six minutes into his NFL debut on Aug. 6, Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Albert Reese IV was flagged for a false start. 

Less than 30 seconds later, the undrafted free agent attracted the officials’ attention again on a holding call. That mishap was declined, but Panthers coach Dave Canales reacted, summoning the rookie to the bench.

"I wasn’t proud of that at all,” Reese said after Wednesday’s joint practice with the Houston Texans. “I didn’t let it rattle me. I didn’t let it carry on. I slowed down, warmed up (and) got the blood flowing and then I was able to finish the game and help my team.”

In a big way.

The 6-foot-7, 330-pound Reese anchored an offensive line comprised of third- and fourth stringers that drove the Panthers to a walk-off victory against the Arizona Cardinals in the preseason opener. Entering

Friday’s preseason finale against the Texans at Bank of America Stadium, Reese earned the start during his final audition for a spot on the initial 53-man roster. Each NFL team is required to trim their rosters by 6 p.m. Sunday.

During the 34-17 against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 21, Reese registered a 91.5 grade, earning the Panthers’ highest offensive mark, per Pro Football Focus. 

“I was definitely proud of that,” he said. “It feels good because I felt like I prepared all that week and it paid off. It just makes you want to keep going and take the next step and keep doing my thing.”

Rebound from early mistakes

Carolina’s offensive line, collectively, didn’t do much of anything during Wednesday’s final full training camp session. Dominated by the Texans’ top-ranked defense, quarterback Bryce Young struggled, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble. He was sacked at least seven times. First-round draft pick Monroe Freeling struggled against defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, yielding at least four sacks.

Canales described the difference between the Texans’ first-team defense against the Panthers’ top offensive unit as “lopsided.”

“It sucks to have a day where you don’t feel like you produced very well,” Young said. “But it’s a great learning opportunity. That’s what these training camp practices are for."
Reese said he wanted “a few plays back” from Wednesday, adding he would use it as motivation for Friday. 

“Their defense is absolutely stellar,” he said. “At the same time, you can’t just blame it on that. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing. You’ve got to play to your standard.”

Reese said he wanted a few more plays back from the Panthers’ 16-13 win at Bank of America Stadium on Friday night. With 30 teammates sitting out, Reese earned the start at right tackle and yielded a sack on the second play to fourth-string defensive end Sabastian Harsh, who reached out with his right hand to sack Pickett for a 6-yard loss. 

With under three minutes to play in the first quarter, Harsh beat Reese again, pressuring Pickett into an incompletion. Reese yielded four quarterback pressures and a sack in the first half along with a false start penalty. 

“First of all, I’m glad obviously we got the win,” he said afterward. “I definitely have to start a lot better. Once I got things rolling, I felt like I got better as the game went on, but yeah, definitely ran into some trouble early on.”

Said Pickett: “Those struggles are going to happen. I think he’s done a great job of coming in with a great attitude every day. I think about halfway through camp, he said he started to feel really good (and) you could tell on tape. I think he put his best foot forward and excited to see what happens for him.”

Opportunity to add to family legacy

A native of Edmonton, Canada, Reese’s father played in the NFL and CFL. Albert Reese III competed in 84 career games with the Edmonton Elks and dressed for the San Francisco 49ers in 1997.

In college, the younger Reese appeared in 48 games, with 22 starts, at Mississippi State. As a senior, he allowed four sacks and committed four penalties, PFF reported.
Reese joined the Panthers not long after the NFL draft, a weekend that still stings. 

“Absolutely,” he said. “It was definitely an intense weekend. I was expecting [to be drafted on] Day 3. That didn’t end up being the case, but I knew I’d end up somewhere. I just felt like (Carolina was) a good fit for me depth-wise, schematically.”

With the Panthers’ top two tackles sidelined indefinitely, Reese, competing with a “chip on my shoulder,” took advantage of the absences of Ikem Ekwonu (knee) and Taylor Moton (blood clots) throughout training camp. 

“That’s all I’ve had my whole football career is a chip on my shoulder and trying my best to prove everybody wrong,” Reese said. “(I) just (want to) show what I can do, no matter the circumstance I’m in.”
Canales didn’t commit to keeping Reese off the waiver wire.

“I don’t want to make any definitive comments on it, but I know he found kryptonite tonight,” Canales said. “We’ll be able to get him settled back in.”

In his first three preseason outings, however, Reese compiled 140 snaps, all at right tackle and earned a No. 11 ranking among rookies. He registered a 92.6 run-blocking grade, which paced all offensive linemen. In 104 pass-blocking attempts, he surrendered two quarterback hurries.

Has Reese shown enough to make the 53-man roster?

“I’m praying,” he said. “I’m hoping and we’re just going to let God take care of the rest.”

Comments