The Panthers’ passing game is starting to look like a real problem for defenses, and the chemistry between Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan is a big reason why.
That connection flashed again Monday at Carolina training camp, where McMillan turned in a pair of jaw-dropping one-handed catches. The final snap of the morning produced one of those grabs, and it served as another reminder that the second-year receiver and Young are building something dangerous.
Head coach Dave Canales pointed to the work behind it.
"It's just about time on task, it's about opportunities," Canales replied. "And I really love that Bryce has been giving him opportunities down the field. Just really trying to stretch it-some of the vertical concepts that we have.
"T-Mac does a great job of holding the defender off, playing it at the high point. He feels strong, he looks great.
So I love seeing those plays. Those are game-changing plays."
McMillan arrived in the league as the Panthers’ eighth overall pick last year and immediately delivered. He finished his rookie season with 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, then became the first Panther to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year since Cam Newton in 2011.
He may be even more physically imposing now. McMillan said in June that he added about 17 pounds of muscle over the offseason, a development that could help him improve on the 57.4-percent catch rate he posted in 2025.
Canales also had strong words for Young, whose play has taken another step in camp.
"Yeah, I'm just really excited. The special plays still show up every day," he stated of Young. "Moving off the spot, pushing up in the pocket, layering balls, all the accuracy.
"The part that I've really been impressed with this camp is just the chemistry with our receivers, time on task with Jalen Coker, T-Mac, Xavier Legette, JT [Ja'Tavion] Sanders and the tight end group that have been around for a while.
"And now, it just seems like he's playing so much faster. It seems he's eliminating things before the snap. On his drop, he's starting to eliminate and evaluate things and throwing really anticipatory throws."
Young is heading into his fourth NFL season after putting up career bests in completion rate at 63.6 percent, passing yards at 3,011 and passing touchdowns at 23. Those numbers helped guide Carolina to its first playoff berth since 2017 and its first NFC South crown since 2015.
For Young and McMillan, 2026 could carry major weight. Young is working toward a lucrative extension, while McMillan is trying to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump.
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