The Panthers spent last season leaning on rookies more than any team wants to, and the payoff was real. Carolina’s 2025 class delivered across the board, with first-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan leading the way and becoming the franchise’s first AP Offensive Rookie of the Year since 2011.
Now the question is whether the 2026 group can keep that momentum rolling. There’s already at least one encouraging sign: CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards put right tackle Monroe Freeling on his preseason All-Rookie team.
Edwards pointed to the way offensive linemen are often asked to make a major adjustment as they move from college to the NFL. Freeling had played left tackle at Georgia before this offseason, and Edwards noted that his preseason work has stood out because of his “independent hand usage” and “the requisite play strength to hold up on the edge.”
Freeling was taken 19th overall this spring and was originally expected to begin his rookie year as a backup, with Ikem Ekwonu at left tackle and Taylor Moton on the right side. That plan changed quickly. Ekwonu remains out after the knee injury he suffered in the playoffs, and Moton is sidelined by a blood clot.
Because of that, the Panthers have moved Freeling into Moton’s spot and plugged Rasheed Walker, a free-agent addition, in for Ekwonu. That means Freeling is being thrown into the fire immediately, which could be exactly what he needs.
His first NFL assignment won’t be a soft landing. Montez Sweat will be across from him on Sunday, and Sweat led the Chicago Bears with 10.0 sacks last season.
In Other News...
Panthers Pass Rush Takes An Early Hit Before Week 1
The Panthers are already having to adjust their edge-rush plans before the 2026 season even begins. Head coach Dave Canales said starting outside linebacker Pat Jones II will miss the opener against the Bears because of a back injury, a setback that lands less than ideal for a defense trying to get its rotation settled early.
Jones issue is being described as an aggravation on the opposite side of his back from the injury he dealt with in 2025, which only adds to the uncertainty around how quickly he can get back. In the meantime, Carolina will lean more heavily on Princely Umanmielen, Trevis Gipson and Thomas Incoom, all of whom are in line for larger snaps as the Panthers try to piece together pressure off the edge without one of their expected starters. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Kuechly Just Gave Panthers Fans A New Reason To Watch
Luke Kuechlys latest act pulled him back into the NFL spotlight in a different way, and Panthers fans had a familiar face to latch onto. The former Carolina linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer made his debut as a color commentator for Netflixs broadcast of the 49ers-Rams game in Australia, stepping into a booth role with far less broadcasting experience than most of his peers but drawing immediate attention for how naturally he handled it.
The early reaction was strong enough to make this more than a one-off curiosity for Carolina followers who still know Kuechly best as the centerpiece of those defenses. Viewers and analysts praised the way he sounded in his first game, and Netflix has him slated to call three more NFL games this season, giving Panthers fans another reason to tune in and see how his second career keeps taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Still Has One Panthers Problem Left To Solve
Bryce Youngs turnaround gave the Panthers plenty to build on, but Dave Canales is still focused on the part of the quarterbacks game that has to hold up from start to finish. After a 2025 season in which Young topped 3,000 passing yards and helped Carolina reach the playoffs, the head coach made it clear the next step is not about flash finishes so much as steady production across four quarters.
That matters even more with the 2026 opener looming against the Bears, because Carolina wants to set the tone early instead of spending the first part of the season chasing it. Young has yet to win a Week 1 game in the NFL, and for a team looking to turn last years progress into something more lasting, getting out of the gate cleanly would be a meaningful sign that the fourth-quarter version of the quarterback can become the full-game version too. [Read more 🡒]