Austin Corbett wins the center competition

Mays, originally a sixth-round pick here in 2022, was released at the initial cuts to 53 and spent time on the Giants’ practice squad.

But he came back after Corbett was injured, and started eight games down the stretch in the middle, at a time when the offense was at its best.

Canales said he’ll now remain as the backup center and depth at guard. The Panthers are thin there at the moment, as Damien Lewis (shoulder) and Chandler Zavala (knee) are out with injuries, and Robert Hunt (ankle) left practice briefly Monday and got his ankle taped, but finished his scheduled work.

Mays is part of a deep and versatile group, and that’s important always, but especially when injuries stack up.

The Panthers finished practice Monday with Brandon Walton and Ja’Tyre Carter in Hunt and Lewis’ respective spots with the ones.

“He’s going to be all across the line,” Canales said of Mays. “He’s our backup center for now, and he can play guard, so he’s a really valuable, really important piece of what we’re doing.”