Panthers Reveal Week 1 Inactives: Is Darren Waller Playing?

The Carolina Panthers are almost ready to kick off the 2026 season against the Chicago Bears.

All of the offseason work and positive developments will be put to the test for the first time today in this battle between two 2025 playoff teams. Of the players on the active roster, the Panthers are fortunate to be relatively healthy.

The only active player set to miss this game due to injury is outside linebacker Patrick Jones II. But as we know, the team has to choose several other players to be inactive as well. Many were wondering if tight end Darren Waller would be ready to go, and we now know that he will be.

Panthers Reveal Inactives

The following players will be inactive in Week 1:

• TE Ja’Tavion Sanders
• WR John Metchie III
• QB Haynes King (Emergency QB)
• S Zakee Wheatley
• OT Albert Reese
• OLB Patrick Jones II
• DT Cam Jackson

The only surprise here (other than Jones) is Zakee Wheatley. The rookie had some real momentum this summer and even looked to be on his way to a potential starting job.

Now, it seems like Wheatley will have to wait a little while to make his impact in the NFL. The Panthers will roll with Tre’von Moehrig, Nick Scott, Lathan Ransom, and Isaiah Simmons as the safeties today.

Cam Jackson earned some real first-team reps this summer, but the team ended up being more impressed with rookie Lee Hunter. Jackson will probably factor into the rotation this season, but undrafted free agent Aaron Hall is active today instead of him.

Finally, perhaps the biggest storyline is the fact that tight end Darren Waller is active. Waller didn’t play at all in the preseason, and it didn’t even seem like a sure thing that he’d make the team. However, the coaching staff loves Waller, and they really believe he can make an impact this year.

Waller was surprisingly effective in the red zone last year. The Panthers received no production from the tight end room last year, so if Waller can be a reliable target for Bryce Young, that could make a big difference for the offense.