The Panthers closed out Thursday’s practice with one more look before Saturday’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, and the session had enough to read into despite being shortened. It was a red-zone-heavy day, the tight ends were more involved than usual, and Xavier Legette kept building a case that he’s starting to figure out the sideline.
That part matters because Legette has made the wrong kind of noise in camp with clips that showed him missing boundary awareness. On Thursday, though, he made a catch along the sideline and got both feet down. For a player whose camp has already produced a few viral reminders that he’s struggled with that detail, it stood out.
Legette wasn’t the only receiver making a mark. Bryce Young hit him on a streaking route for a catch with serious yards after the catch, and one play later Young found Tremble in the middle for a touchdown to end the day’s work.
After going viral Wednesday for a badly missed throw in one-on-one drills, Young responded with a much cleaner team session Thursday. It wasn’t flawless, but it was far sharper than the day before and in line with much of what he’s done through camp.
The quarterback work came with a twist at running back, too. Dave Canales said Jonathon Brooks will start at RB against the Bills, with Etienne and Dillon also in the mix.
Chuba Hubbard won’t play because he’s week-to-week and expected back by Week 1. That leaves Brooks, who comes with his own injury concerns, along with a group of roster hopefuls trying to make the most of preseason reps.
The tight ends may have been the biggest beneficiaries of the day’s setup. With a lot of red-zone work and Darren Waller signing late Wednesday night, the whole group was used more often.
Ja’Tavion Sanders looked better, and the other tight ends on the roster were more involved than they’ve been. Maybe that position group is finally turning a corner, and maybe the push from a veteran arrival helped speed it along.
There was also a notable moment from Kenny Pickett, who delivered an excellent red-zone throw over a leaping Claudin Cherelus to XL in the end zone during 11-on-11 work.
At linebacker, Trevin Wallace didn’t say much when asked about his LB2 battle with Claudin Cherilus, which left the competition feeling no clearer than before. Cherilus then followed with a rough practice and had trouble in coverage. If both players keep struggling, that’s not a great outcome for anyone.
And Jimmy Horn Jr. kept flashing in the kind of way coaches notice. He was getting open a lot away from the ball, and that should matter as he tries to carve out a roster spot.
The Panthers want him to become a useful piece of the offense, but so far the only obvious fit has been the gadget role he played in 2025. On Thursday, though, his route-running looked crisp and productive, and he may have started working his way into a decoy role that can help the offense create space elsewhere.
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That possibility is where the intrigue starts. ESPNs Adam Schefter reported the Panthers could explore using King as a dynamic threat in the backfield or from the slot, which would put his skill set in a very different lane from a standard backup quarterback role. If Carolina goes that direction, it could mean more hybrid formations and more pressure on defenses to account for King as a runner or receiver, leaving the bigger question of how far the Panthers are willing to reshape the offense around that idea. [Read more 🡒]
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Special teams, meanwhile, already looks settled in one area, with JJ Jansen at long snapper, Sam Martin at punter and Ryan Fitzgerald at kicker all sitting in firm spots without competition. For the rest of the bubble crowd, though, the work is only getting more intense as the Panthers sort through who can make enough of an impression to stick through the rest of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Give Bryce Young Another Proven Weapon For NFC Push
The Panthers have made another move to bolster the passing game, agreeing to a one-year contract with former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. Waller arrives with recent stops in Miami and New York on his rsum, and Carolina is counting on him to add both depth and proven receiving ability as it continues shaping the offense around Bryce Young.
For a team looking ahead to the 2026 season, this is the kind of addition that can matter in more ways than one. The Panthers have spent plenty of time trying to give Young a steadier set of options, and Waller brings a track record that should make him an immediate focal point in that effort. The real question now is how quickly Carolina can turn this into a more productive and more flexible attack. [Read more 🡒]