The Panthers gave themselves plenty to feel good about in 2025. Dave Canales’ team jumped to 8-9, grabbed the NFC South title for the first time since the 2015 Super Bowl season, and set up a real chance to stay on top in a division that looks wide open.
But there’s a reason the optimism isn’t complete. Pro Football Focus analyst Gordon McGuinness pointed to two major pressure points for Carolina in 2026, and both sit right where the Panthers can least afford trouble.
The biggest issue is up front, where the offensive tackle spots are suddenly in bad shape. McGuinness said Carolina is without both starters, noting that left tackle Ikem Ekwonu “suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in the wild-card loss to the Rams, while right tackle Taylor Morton is sidelined with blood clots.” He added that it’s unclear when either will be back in 2026, though both “appear likely to miss at least the start of the season.”
That’s a nasty development for an offense that leaned on those edges in 2025. The Panthers dealt with injuries along the line last season too, but the tackle play was one of the few steady spots and helped Bryce Young put together the best year of his career. Losing both Ekwonu and Morton for any length of time would hit Carolina hard, especially early in the year.
Young’s third season did bring real progress. After two rough years, the 2023 first-overall pick set career highs with 3,011 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and a 63.6 completion percentage.
Still, the season was hardly smooth. Week to week, Young often swung between excellent and ineffective, which is exactly why McGuinness sees him as another source of uncertainty.
“There is also the question of how far Bryce Young can take this team,” McGuinness writes. “The 2023 No. 1 overall pick is coming off his second consecutive season with a PFF grade above 70.0, but he has shown the potential to become a top-tier quarterback only in flashes.”
He also pointed to Young’s production on explosive throws, writing, “His 4.5% big-time throw rate in 2025 ranked tied for 19th among the 45 quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks. That level of production is manageable while Young remains on his rookie contract, but the Panthers will likely need to see more before committing to him beyond his fifth-year option in 2027.”
So the path for Carolina is clear enough: if the Panthers want to stay in the division mix, Young has to be more consistent, and the offensive line has to hold together. If either piece slips, the questions around this team will get a lot louder by next offseason.
In Other News...
Panthers Hall Of Fame Game Buzz Left Out One Key Truth
The Hall of Fame preseason matchup between the Panthers and Cardinals drew a notable audience for a summer exhibition, averaging 6.99 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, according to NBC Sports. For a game with little at stake on the field, that is still a strong showing and one that comfortably outpaced some of the bigger broadcasts from MLB and the NHL, a reminder that the NFL remains a ratings anchor even in August.
Still, the buzz around the telecast carried a small but important asterisk. Some reports framed it as the biggest Hall of Fame Game audience since 2017, and that part is true for NBCs window, but the broader picture is a little different. The number did not top the 2021 game on Fox, so the Panthers spotlight came with a ratings caveat even as it underscored just how much attention the league can command before the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Fortner Just Sent A Message At Panthers Camp
Training camp always has a way of sharpening the edges, and this latest Panthers practice brought a little more heat than usual when the line of scrimmage got chippy. Luke Fortner, who recently signed a one-year deal after Carolina lost its previous starting center, Cade Mays, found himself in the middle of the kind of dust-up that can reveal as much about a teams temperament as any drill or install period.
Head coach Dave Canales leaned into the moment afterward, praising Fortners loyalty and reminding the team that football comes with a physical edge, especially in camp when bodies are flying and emotions rise fast. For Carolina, the incident was less about the scuffle itself than what it said about a newcomer trying to establish himself in a crowded, demanding environment, with the response to the moment still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Zakee Wheatley May Have Just Changed Carolinas Safety Battle
A rookie safety trying to make noise in August often has to do it in every phase, and Zakee Wheatley did exactly that against the Cardinals. Starting in his first preseason game, he flashed as both a run defender and in coverage, showing up with the kind of active, physical effort that coaches notice quickly in a crowded defensive back room. With injuries affecting other Panthers players, the opening at safety has been a real storyline through camp, and Wheatleys debut at least gave Carolina another name to think about.
What makes the performance stand out is how complete it looked for a player still trying to carve out a role. Pro Football Focus gave Wheatley strong marks on both run and pass work, and the early comparison point inside the room is veteran Nick Scott, whose own value has been tied to making disruptive plays. The Panthers still have time to sort out the battle, but Wheatleys first step was the kind that can change the conversation fast. [Read more 🡒]