The Carolina Panthers left their first real preseason game with plenty to clean up, especially on offense. Bryce Young never found a rhythm, finishing 3-for-5 for 18 yards and taking 1 sack, while Jonathon Brooks’ much-anticipated night produced just 3 carries for 5 rushing yards and 1 catch for 9 yards.
The struggles kept piling up from there. Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, the team’s top two receivers in the spotlight, didn’t even draw a target. That kind of quiet night won’t be part of the regular season conversation, but in a preseason game that already felt flat, it only added to the frustration.
Still, Carolina did leave the loss with one clear reason for optimism, and it came from the defense. NFL.com’s David Ely pointed to the Panthers’ new additions on that side of the ball, and the early returns backed that up.
Jaelan Phillips wasted little time making his presence felt. The EDGE played just 10 snaps against the Bills but still logged 2 tackles, 1 sack and 2 pressures. For a player Carolina signed to a four-year deal worth up to $120 million, that kind of production in limited work is exactly the sort of impact the team wants to see.
Inside move by Jaelan Phillips to beat Spencer Brown and pressure Allen pic.twitter.com/oWZPEmUqRx
Devin Lloyd also made his case in a short outing. The new Panthers inside linebacker, who was second-team All-Pro in 2025, played 13 snaps and finished with 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 QB pressure.
That was the bright spot for Carolina: two new defenders showing up fast, efficiently and with real disruption. And with the offense looking so rough, those performances mattered even more. A strong pass rush and run defense can help cover for issues in the secondary, which hasn’t looked good in either preseason game.
There are 27 days left before Carolina opens the season at home against the Chicago Bears. The offense still has work to do before that date arrives, but the Panthers at least know their two new defensive standouts are already doing their part.
In Other News...
Panthers Offense Gave Fans Plenty To Worry About Saturday
Saturdays preseason game against the Bills offered the kind of early look the Panthers would rather forget on offense. The starting unit was on the field for just nine plays and never got a conversion going, with limited yardage and an overall rhythm that never really materialized. Missing Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt along the offensive line didnt help, and the group was forced to deal with pressure in the pocket and little room to work on the ground.
There were some unavoidable growing pains with new faces getting their first NFL snaps up front, but the bigger concern was how disconnected the whole operation looked. The play-calling never found a groove, and the absence of Chuba Hubbard only added to the questions about backfield depth. For a team trying to build some confidence heading into the season, it was the sort of showing that leaves more worry than reassurance. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Preseason Opener Exposed An Early Concern Behind Robert Hunt And Damien Lewis
The Panthers preseason opener against the Bills did not do much to ease concerns about the depth behind their starting guards, and the spotlight quickly shifted to the backup options trying to hold up the middle of the line. Brady Christensen was back on the field after a torn Achilles, which gives his uneven debut some context, while Chandler Zavala also had a rough night as Carolina tried to sort out what it has behind Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt.
For a team that wants to feel better about its protection and run game, the bigger issue is how fragile the guard picture could look if either starter misses time. Analysts Mike Kaye and Jared Feinberg both pointed to the same basic problem: the Panthers need more from the players tasked with backing up Lewis and Hunt, because the drop-off was hard to ignore in the preseason opener. [Read more 🡒]
Darren Waller Just Put One Panthers Offensive Question In Focus
The Panthers have added a familiar name to a position that has not been central to their passing game in recent seasons, signing veteran tight end Darren Waller as they continue reshaping the offense around new coordinator Brad Idzik. Waller brings a proven resume, including a Pro Bowl nod in 2020, and arrives as a player who has already moved through several NFL stops before landing in Carolina.
What makes the move interesting is less the name value than the fit. The Panthers have used tight ends in only a modest way lately, so Wallers presence naturally raises the question of how much of a role Idzik wants to carve out for him. If Carolina is going to get a real boost from the signing, the answer to that usage question will matter as much as anything Waller has done before. [Read more 🡒]