The Carolina Panthers are into training camp with their first preseason game of 2026 set for Thursday, and that extra Hall of Fame game appearance gives them one more chance to sort through the roster before a season that already feels loaded with pressure.
At the center of it all is Bryce Young. Carolina picked up his fifth-year option this offseason, but the team has not made a long-term decision yet, leaving his future very much tied to what happens in 2026.
That was the backdrop when Panthers executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis met with the media on Monday and addressed Young’s contract situation. Tilis made it clear those extension talks are staying behind closed doors, but he also signaled confidence in where things are headed.
“I would say [Young] ascended last year and there’s still room for him to ascend,” Tilis said. “ His ceiling, currently, is unknown and I think that’s exciting for us. He’s working hard to get himself there.”
That’s the reality with Young right now. He has shown flashes, he has had rough stretches, and he was benched early in his career. The former No. 1 overall pick still has plenty to prove if he wants to quiet the noise and put himself in position for a new deal.
Tilis also pointed to the environment around him as a major reason for optimism.
“The team is better, the coaches are good, and Bryce is putting in the work, too,” Tilis said. “So, it’s all there.
And we’ll just see how the year plays out. I think we’re all really excited for what Bryce is going to show and how the team’s going to be.”
Carolina is coming off an 8-9 season in 2025 and won the NFC South on a tiebreaker, so the stakes are already high. With the team heading into a big 2026 season, Young’s play may end up shaping everything that follows.
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Panthers Run-First Plan Faces A Backfield Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Carolinas offense is built around the ground game, so the state of the backfield matters more here than it might for a team leaning on the pass. Chuba Hubbard is the current lead back, while Jonathon Brooks sits behind him as a recovering option with real upside if he can get and stay right. For a Panthers team that wants to control games with the run, that setup leaves little margin for error.
The concern is that the depth chart does not yet feel like a settled answer, even though the scheme keeps pointing in that direction. Hubbard has been viewed as a limited presence among NFL backs, and Brooks still comes with major uncertainty after his injuries. If Carolina is going to make its run-first identity work, it needs more than a placeholder at the top and a hopeful bet waiting in reserve. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Youngs Situation Just Changed In A Way Panthers Fans Will Feel
The Panthers have already made one notable adjustment on offense, shifting play-calling duties from Dave Canales to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, and Bryce Young has pointed to the continuity in the scheme as part of the transition. For a young quarterback still trying to settle into a stable rhythm, that kind of behind-the-scenes consistency can matter as much as any roster move, especially when the team is trying to keep the offense moving in the same direction.
Around the division, the quarterback picture is changing in ways Carolina will be watching closely. Falcons passer Michael Penix Jr. is expected to be cleared for 11-on-11 work by the end of August, while New Orleans has its own competition unfolding with Spencer Rattler focused on a backup role and a strong relationship with Tyler Shough and Zach Wilson. For the Panthers, the bigger question is whether this new setup helps Young turn continuity into production once the real games start. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Kuechlys Hall Of Fame Moment Says Everything About Panthers Fans
Luke Kuechlys long-awaited place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame says as much about the man as it does the player, and it has brought back the kind of respect he commanded throughout his Panthers career. Former teammates and coaches have been quick to praise his character, work ethic and the way he influenced people around him, which is no surprise for anyone who watched how he carried himself in Carolina.
Greg Olsens recollection from training camp offered a fitting reminder of that mindset, with Kuechly already worrying about whether the Hall of Fame news would interrupt team routines. It is a small detail, but one that fits perfectly with the image Panthers fans have held onto for years: a star who never seemed to put himself ahead of the group, even when the biggest individual honor in the sport was coming his way. [Read more 🡒]