The Falcons still have unfinished business at right tackle, and Josh Kendall of The Athletic says that search is likely to continue. Even after adding Jawaan Taylor and trading for Wanya Morris, the spot remains unsettled. Both players have been hurt, though Taylor is reportedly getting close to returning.
Atlanta is also still sorting out its linebacker mix. Christian Harris is the leading candidate to start, but the team has been giving fourth-round pick Kendal Daniels and sixth-round pick Harold Perkins extra chances to show what they can do.
There’s a similar squeeze happening in the secondary. Second-round cornerback Avieon Terrell has work to do if he wants to crack the starting group, with Kendall noting that several players have received more first-team nickel reps than he has.
One more Falcons rookie is currently away from the team. Sixth-round defensive tackle Anterio Thompson remains absent because of an issue the two sides are still “working through,” according to HC Kevin Stefanski.
In Carolina, the biggest camp storyline is the version of Bryce Young that’s showing up this summer. The buzz around him has been notably strong, with teammates and reporters describing a quarterback who looks far more settled and in control than he has at any other point in his career.
“Just being here for the last year and a half, I’d say he just seems more comfortable,” Panthers TE Mitchell Evans said via the Athletic’s Joe Person. “Even from when I first got here to now, he seems more confident in himself.
And just the way he carries himself, he’s got more of a presence. And you can see that reflected on the field and even in the locker room and throughout the building.
You can see he’s more confident.”
Young, though, brushed aside any temptation to compare now with then.
“I’m not a big sit back, reflect, compare (person). Doesn’t really do anything for me.
So I don’t think about the past like that,” he said. “I’m happy with the camp we’re having so far.
I’m happy with the growth as a unit. But it’s still early.
We’ve got a lot more to do.”
He also wasn’t interested in dwelling on his contract situation. Carolina picked up his fifth-year option for 2027, but a long-term extension before this season hasn’t materialized. Young made it clear he’s not spending much time on that.
“I try to feed off the people around me. All of us are pushing each other, wanting to be at our best,” Young said.
“Coaching staff challenging me, challenging all of us to take that next step system-wise. It’s just about having that growth mindset.
“For me, I just try to be where my feet are, make sure I’m focused. Whatever happens in the future, happens in the future. When you start thinking about that, you’re not able to focus on where you’re at.”
In Other News...
Panthers Starting Defense Just Got An Early Reality Check
The first live look at Carolinas starting defense did not come with much of a soft landing. In its preseason opener, Buffalo moved the ball efficiently against the Panthers first unit, with Josh Allen finding a rhythm early and the Bills offense looking sharp enough to make the short stint on the field feel longer than it was. DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir each helped tilt the action with meaningful yardage, while James Cook added a steady dose on the ground.
For a defense still setting its tone for the season, the result served as an early reminder that the margin for error is thin once real game speed shows up. Preseason reps are about evaluation as much as outcomes, but the Panthers did get a clear snapshot of where the starting group stood against one of the leagues toughest quarterbacks and a well-organized offense. What matters next is how quickly Carolina can clean up the issues before the competition gets more serious. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Preseason Opener Raised Big Questions And A Few Real Reasons For Hope
The first preseason game offered a sharp early look at where the Panthers stand, and it was a mixed one. Carolina lost to Buffalo, but there were a few encouraging signs on defense, where Jaelan Phillips and Princely Umanmielen stood out as pass rushers and Devin Lloyd made his presence felt as well. Even with starters on the field, the secondary had trouble holding up, and the night had the kind of sloppiness that tends to follow a team still sorting out its identity.
There was some useful evidence on the offensive side, too, where Kenny Pickett helped himself in the quarterback battle with a solid showing. Trevor Etienne also added value with his work as a receiver, giving the Panthers another reason to think he can stick on the roster. Still, the bigger takeaway from the opener may have been how long the staff left key players in the game despite the uneven performance, a reminder that the evaluation period is already revealing both hope and some uncomfortable questions. [Read more 🡒]