The Carolina Panthers’ first preseason game with meaningful players on the field turned into a rough night against the Buffalo Bills, but it wasn’t all bad news. The final result was ugly, yet the game still gave a clearer picture of a few key pieces - and a few lingering problems.
The brightest spot came up front. Jaelan Phillips and Princely Umanmielen flashed exactly the kind of pressure the Panthers were hoping to see, and they did it in a hurry.
On back-to-back plays, they got after Josh Allen and helped force a Bills field goal. Phillips, in nine snaps, logged back-to-back pressures and a sack, while Umanmielen added two pressures in nine snaps.
For a pass rush that came into the game with questions hanging over it, that was a strong showing from both the starters and the backups.
Devin Lloyd made his presence felt, too. In 12 snaps, he finished with three tackles, including one for loss, and a quarterback pressure, according to Next Gen Stats. He looked active and complete in a short stint, and his debut gave the Panthers another encouraging performance from a newcomer.
The secondary, though, had a much tougher time. Last week’s concerns were tied to the backups, but this time the mostly starting group struggled as well.
DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir gave the cornerbacks and safeties trouble throughout their time on the field. The bigger issue may be that Ejiro Evero’s zone scheme still isn’t producing the results the Panthers expected.
Receivers were finding space, and running backs were getting chunks of yardage before anyone could get to them.
That defensive inconsistency stood out even more because the Panthers had a few other chances to build momentum and couldn’t cash in. Penalties kept undercutting good moments, and more than half of the positive plays the team managed were wiped out by flags. That has not been the Panthers’ usual identity under Dave Canales, since they’ve been one of the least-penalized teams, but the sloppiness showed up at the worst times.
Canales also made a notable decision by leaving his starters in despite the rough outing. Last year, he famously pulled them in a preseason game because of poor play, and he has often played them too sparingly to give them enough reps. This time, he kept them out there.
On offense, Jonathon Brooks didn’t match the buzz he’s built in camp. He’s been riding a major hype wave, but against Buffalo he was quiet once the starters were on the field. He didn’t do much on the ground and didn’t offer much as a receiver, either.
The backup quarterback battle also took a turn. Kenny Pickett did enough to remind everyone that the competition isn’t settled, even though Haynes King didn’t get the chance to answer back because he didn’t play.
And then there was Trevor Etienne, who may have done the most to help his roster case. He’s never been much of a runner and has been solid as a returner, but the Panthers have been leaning harder into using running backs as receivers. Etienne fit that plan well, showing off his ability out of the backfield and strengthening the idea that he could be on his way to locking up a spot.
In Other News...
Panthers Starting Defense Just Got An Early Reality Check
The first live look at Carolinas starting defense did not come with much of a soft landing. In its preseason opener, Buffalo moved the ball efficiently against the Panthers first unit, with Josh Allen finding a rhythm early and the Bills offense looking sharp enough to make the short stint on the field feel longer than it was. DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir each helped tilt the action with meaningful yardage, while James Cook added a steady dose on the ground.
For a defense still setting its tone for the season, the result served as an early reminder that the margin for error is thin once real game speed shows up. Preseason reps are about evaluation as much as outcomes, but the Panthers did get a clear snapshot of where the starting group stood against one of the leagues toughest quarterbacks and a well-organized offense. What matters next is how quickly Carolina can clean up the issues before the competition gets more serious. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Is Giving Panthers Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Bryce Young has given the Panthers a different kind of buzz at training camp, not with a viral highlight or a bold prediction, but with a steadier presence thats been noticeable on the field. Reports from camp have him operating with more confidence and command of the offense, the sort of progress Carolina has been waiting to see as it tries to build around a former No. 1 pick who still has plenty to prove.
For the Panthers, the encouraging part is less about any one practice and more about the feeling that Young is settling into the job the way a franchise quarterback should. He has stayed focused on the present and has not weighed in on his contract status, which keeps the attention where Carolina wants it for now: on whether this version of Young can keep growing into the player the team needs. [Read more 🡒]