The Carolina Panthers have built a little breathing room for themselves early in the season, and they’ve done it while taking a hit up front that could have derailed a lesser unit. They’re the only team in their division without a losing record right now, and last time out they went toe-to-toe with the Detroit Lions before walking away with a 32-26 prime time win.
That game showed exactly what Carolina can be when the offense is rolling. Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan were sharp against Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St.
Brown, while the run game stacked up 127 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns, with most of that production coming from Chuba Hubbard. Young finished 29 of 41 for 329 yards and two touchdowns, and McMillan was the clear big-play engine, accounting for 192 yards and both scores.
The one rough edge was protection: Young was sacked three times, making it the fourth straight game he’s taken multiple hits that way.
The bigger problem for Carolina has been the revolving door on the offensive line. Through the first three weeks, the starting five was Rasheed Walker at left tackle, Damien Lewis at left guard, Luke Fortner at center, Robert Hunt at right guard, and rookie Monroe Freeling at right tackle. Then Lewis suffered an elbow injury in the Week 3 loss at Cleveland, and Corey Bullock got the start last Sunday night.
Even with all that shuffling, Lewis just earned a major nod from Pro Football Focus. Gordon McGuinness named his First-Quarter All-Pro Team last week, and Lewis landed on the First Team at left guard. The seven-year veteran is currently PFF’s fourth-ranked guard overall, checking in second in pass protection and sixth in run blocking.
McGuinness made the case plainly: “Down both starting tackles, the Panthers still ranking 25th here is a testament to the organization investing at the tackle position this offseason. The other reason for Carolina not ranking lower has been the dominance of left guard Damien Lewis. He has compiled PFF grades above 80.0 both in pass protection and as a run-blocker and has surrendered just one pressure from 123 pass-blocking snaps.”
That praise lands because Carolina’s line has had to absorb a brutal injury wave. Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton are both sidelined, yet the offense has still managed to function at a high level. A lot of that points back to Dan Morgan and Dave Canales, and to the offseason work Morgan did after moving up from assistant general manager, including the free-agent additions of Lewis and Hunt in 2024.
Now comes a bigger test. The Panthers visit Philadelphia on Sunday, where that line will be dealing with the Eagles’ talented defensive front. Carolina is chasing its first two-game winning streak of the season, and there’s also the question of whether Lewis will even be available for the trip to the City of Brotherly Love.
In Other News...
Panthers Fans Have A Linebacker Prospect Worth Watching Early
Chris Cole is still early in his Georgia career, but he is already the kind of linebacker prospect Panthers fans can file away for later. The Bulldogs defender has the traits scouts tend to circle in this part of the calendar, and his profile is intriguing because it blends on-field production with the sort of developmental upside that can keep a name in the draft conversation for years.
For Carolina, the appeal goes beyond the talent alone. The Panthers are still sorting through their linebacker room, so a prospect who could eventually match up with their defensive scheme is worth tracking as the 2027 NFL Draft picture starts to take shape. Coles strengths and flaws both make the evaluation more interesting, and for now the question is less about whether he belongs on the radar than how high that radar might eventually point. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Face An Eagles Backfield Mess With One Big Week 6 Twist
The Eagles backfield has gone from crowded to uncertain in a hurry, and Carolina may be catching a break at exactly the right time. Will Shipleys partial plantar fascia tear in Week 5 added another layer to an already thin situation, with Saquon Barkley working back from a hamstring injury and Tank Bigsby now on injured reserve. For a Panthers defense preparing for Week 6, the matchup suddenly looks a lot different than it did even a few days ago.
Dameon Pierce appears to be the likeliest lead back if the Eagles have to sort through the rotation without full clarity, but Philadelphia still has not announced a starter for Sunday. More injury updates are expected before kickoff, and that uncertainty matters for Carolina because the game plan could hinge on whether the Eagles are trying to lean on a veteran runner, patch things together by committee, or get one of their injured backs cleared at the last minute. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Has A Real Chance To Steal One In Philly
The Panthers head to Philadelphia in Week 6 with a 2-2 record and a quarterback who is starting to make the offense feel more stable. Bryce Young has helped Carolina play with more rhythm on that side of the ball, and that matters here because the matchup comes against an Eagles team that has been dealing with injuries and a recent slide.
Philadelphia is still the favorite at home, but this one has the look of a game Carolina can hang around in longer than expected. If the Panthers keep getting clean operation from Young and the offense continues its strong stretch, an upset is very much in play, which would say plenty about where this team is headed early in the 2026 season. [Read more 🡒]