Dan Morgan didn’t sugarcoat what he saw from the Panthers on Saturday, and it’s hard to blame him.
Carolina’s 29-14 loss to the Bills in Orchard Park was ugly from the jump. The starting offense never found a rhythm, going three-and-out on all three of its possessions.
The defense had no answers for Buffalo head coach Joe Brady, quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver DJ Moore. Even the special teams unit failed to offer much of a lift.
Speaking on the Panthers’ broadcast in the middle of the third quarter, the team’s president of football operations and general manager made his view clear, as relayed by Joe Person at The Athletic:
“The preseason games, it’s a game setting. You should be competing at the highest level... I think the games matter a lot, and hopefully, we perform better next week.”
Person went a step further in his own assessment, calling Carolina’s showing in Orchard Park “putrid.”
Still, there were a few things worth noting beyond the scoreline. Outside linebackers Jaelan Phillips, Princely Umanmielen and Cam Gill each showed some juice as pass rushers, while wide receiver Ja’seem Reed kept building his case that the Panthers’ receiver depth may be better than people think. Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett also had a solid outing overall, sacks aside.
But the bigger picture was rough. The offensive line, with starting guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis out, struggled badly.
The starting defense was even shakier. And at running back, nobody really separated from the pack.
Carolina does have time to clean it up. The Panthers still have two preseason games left, with the next chance to look sharper coming Friday night in Jacksonville.
In Other News...
Panthers Still Have 1 Preseason Problem At Every Level
Two preseason games in, Carolina is still sorting out a few of the places where the depth chart is supposed to start taking shape, and linebacker remains one of the clearest examples. The staff is evaluating a close battle for the LB2 role next to Devin Lloyd, with Claudin Cherelus and Trevin Wallace both getting a long look as the Panthers try to settle one of the most important spots on the defense before the regular season arrives.
There is similar uncertainty on the offensive side, where the team is working through a new system under Brad Idzik and Bryce Young while also figuring out how the running backs will be used. The latest complication comes with Darren Waller, who signed recently but is still learning the playbook, leaving his status for roster cuts another part of a broader preseason puzzle that still has pieces missing at every level. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Enters Carolinas Biggest Debate Yet
Bryce Young is heading into the kind of season quarterbacks usually spend years trying to avoid, a year when every throw feels tied to bigger questions about the Carolina Panthers future. The roster around him has improved enough to create optimism, especially on defense, and the team has added some offensive help, but the situation still asks Young to carry a heavy load while proving he can be the long-term answer.
Even with those upgrades, the support system is far from settled, which is why this season carries so much weight for both sides. Carolina can talk about development and patience, but the reality is Young has to show real progress in a lineup that still has holes and depth concerns, or the conversation quickly shifts from an extension to the possibility of another reset at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Have Found The Tight End Help This Offense Needed
The Panthers have spent much of the offseason looking for a tighter fit at tight end, and the signing of veteran Darren Waller gives them a proven option with real pass-catching upside. Carolinas current group produced just over 600 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season, which left room for a more dynamic presence in the middle of the field and near the goal line.
Waller arrives with a track record that suggests he can change that equation if he earns a spot on the final roster. The 32-year-old was productive in his most recent action and drew strong marks from Pro Football Focus, but the bigger question for Carolina is whether that form carries over long enough to make him a factor in the red zone once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]