Panthers’  Tommy Tremble more relevant to offense

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble has emerged as a reliable option as a receiver with 15 catches for 128 yards in five games. Two of those catches were for touchdowns – his first of the season – Oct. 18 against Philadelphia. He grabbed four passes in that game.

About 10 minutes before kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field, Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble created a 50-year anniversary homage to one of his favorite movies, “Rocky.” 

After connecting with quarterback Bryce Young on a 12-yard touchdown pass during the second quarter of the Panthers’ 25-14 win against the Eagles, Tremble recruited wide receiver Jalen Coker to re-enact a knockout scene, capped by an uppercut and a fall to the turf. 

Tremble displayed more drama after his fourth-quarter score capped the scoring, which drew a taunting penalty. It may have been his first two-touchdown outing against the franchise his father Greg once played for, but his contributions were not limited to catching passes. 

As a lead blocker, Tremble played a key role in Chuba Hubbard’s 1-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run and at least three first-down plays. 

Lined up at fullback, he also could have rivaled “Rocky’s” footwork in the ring. On a fourth-and-1, Young called for a hard count as Tremble motioned out of the backfield, frantically moving his arms up and down. The decoy worked, leading to an offsides penalty. 

“I think he had one or two dances in his repertoire,” coach Dave Canales said Wednesday. “Once he started getting a little further down into his toolbox that’s where (his personality) came out.” 

Following father’s footsteps 

Tremble reminisced about stories his father told him about his lone NFL season in 1995, five years before he was born. The elder Tremble’s career featured seven games with eventual Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys, and four outings with the Eagles. The former Georgia standout recorded six career tackles (four solo). 

A 2018 graduate of Wesleyan (Ga.) School, the younger Tremble recalled a recruiting trip to the University of Pennsylvania, joined by his father. They took time to take in the Philadelphia landmarks, like the “Rocky” monument and, of course, the NFL stadium. 

“(While still) in high school, we ran up the ‘Rocky’ steps ... all that stuff,” Tremble said. “I remember standing outside, never thinking I was going to play in that stadium and thinking it was super cool that my dad used to play there back in the day. And to go and actually play in that stadium, let alone score twice, it was sick.  

“It was super cool, man.” 

Proving recently to be a reliable target, Tremble caught all four of passes thrown his way against the Eagles, compiling a season-best 46 yards and his first two touchdowns this season. Over his last three games, Tremble registered 11 catches on 12 targets. 

Tremble took pride in his “dirty work,” prompted by offensive coordinator/play-caller Brad Idzik expanding his workload by moving Tremble to the backfield. As a lead blocker, Tremble helped Hubbard into the end zone for what proved to be the game-winning score. 

“That's the stuff that we pride ourselves (on) as tight ends,” Tremble said. “People only see the flashy numbers. We don’t just catch touchdowns. We do the dirty work and try to help out the run game.” 

Expanding role 

Tremble’s teammates noticed. 

During film review, they reviewed his pancake block and the effort that took out two defenders as Hubbard delivered a first-down run on fourth-and-1. They also saw him run out as a lead blocker on wide receiver David Moore’s 27-yard catch and run with 4:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, effectively sealing the win for the NFC South-leading Panthers (3-2).  

“Just the will and the want-to,” running back Trevor Etienne said. “You see a guy go out there and give his all and just lay out key blocks in the game that we needed in pivotal moments.  You can honestly tell it’s a dream come true, you know. You can’t write it up any better. You can’t ask for nothing else.” 

Well? Some Panthers fans, since 2021, have grown impatient waiting for Tremble’s production to match his skill set. In 83 career games, he collected 127 catches on 186 targets. Last season, he registered career highs in receptions (27) and yards (249) and this season appears poised to break those marks with 15 catches and 128 yards in five games. 

With Darren Waller and Mitchell Evans also in the tight end rotation, Tremble likely will need to deliver more “dirty work” when the Panthers face the slumping Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. 

“Tommy’s willing and ready to do whatever we ask of him,” Canales said. “It’s that kind of toughness, the teammate that he is.”

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