Will Lee III didn’t just hold his own against the Eagles on Sunday - he brought the kind of edge that had both benches and the officials paying attention.
The Panthers rookie went face-to-facemask with DeVonta Smith during a chippy stretch at Lincoln Financial Field, and the back-and-forth got hot enough that Dave Canales had to step in and pull Lee away before a referee could hand out another flag. After the game, Canales was quick to back the 2026 fourth-round pick and the way he competed in Carolina’s 25-14 win.
"Will had a great game," Canales said during his post-game press conference, per Panthers.com. "I thought, some beautiful pass breakups down the field, short and intermediate."
Even with the touchdown catch Smith scored late in the fourth quarter and two pass interference penalties against him, Lee mostly answered the bell in his second start for the injured Jaycee Horn. The rookie took on a lot and still came away looking like a cornerback who believes he belongs in the fight.
Lee was charged with 46 penalty yards as Carolina piled up a franchise-record 146 yards in penalties on 13 calls. One moment in particular - his inadvertent grab of Dallas Goedert’s pants - has a real chance to live on longer than the rest.
Canales didn’t back away from the rough edges in Lee’s game. He embraced the aggression.
"He's getting penalties because he's challenging people. I'm fine with that.
Can he work on having cleaner hands? Sure.
Are you going to be a successful DB in this in the NFL if you don't use your hands? No, you're not.
And I love the fact that he took the challenge.
"He stayed up there and pressed."
The numbers from Lee’s day back that up. He finished with six solo tackles and two passes defended, helped hold the Eagles to 35 rushing yards, and gave up seven catches on 14 total targets. Smith ended with seven receptions for 75 yards and a 19-yard touchdown, with Lee staying attached on the "go" route before being beaten by an athletic receiver and a well-placed throw from backup quarterback Tanner McKee.
"They were able to get a big touchdown later on in the game, but for the most part, that's exactly how you've got to play ball when you have your opportunities, get up there, challenge them, make them have to throw an accurate pass," Canales said. "So I was really proud of the way he played."
Carolina’s win pushed the NFC South leaders to 3-2, and the Panthers have now won both games Lee has started in Horn’s place. That matters more now, because Horn’s torn quadriceps and Mike Jackson’s groin injury are expected to keep both out for about another month.
That leaves Lee, special teams standout Akayleb Evans and sophomore Chau Smith-Wade in line for bigger roles than expected. It also sets up a possible future roster decision if Lee keeps trending upward. Jackson is in the final stretch of a two-year, $10.5 million deal, and after developing into one of the league’s top CB2s, he could be in line for a significant raise after serving as a bargain for the Panthers.
At the same time, Bryce Young’s rise as an MVP candidate is also pointing toward a longer-term payday next offseason, which could make Lee look even more appealing as a possible cost-saving answer for Carolina general manager Dan Morgan.
For now, though, Lee’s focus is on what comes next: a matchup with the Buccaneers and their top receivers, Emeka Egbuka and Chris Goodwin Jr. Tampa Bay enters at 1-5, and with questions swirling at quarterback, a loss at Bank of America Stadium could knock the Bucs out of the conference race.
After Sunday’s performance, Lee made it clear he’s aiming to keep playing with that same attitude.
"I know I'm a rookie and I'm gonna make my rookie mistakes," Lee told Carolina Sports Live after the game, "but I wanna play like a vet and live up to the standard."
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