The Panthers’ 34-17 preseason win over the Jaguars on Friday night gave Carolina a few more answers as roster battles start to tighten. Preseason is still preseason, sure, but for players fighting for a job or a role on the Week 1 program, every snap counts.
A handful of Panthers made the most of their time at EverBank Stadium, and several helped their cases in a meaningful way.
Trevor Etienne was one of the clearest winners. The second-year back had been part of a mostly quiet preseason for Carolina’s running backs, but he broke through in a few different ways against Jacksonville.
Etienne showed value as a return man, bringing back a punt for 15 yards and a kickoff for 34. He also added 24 rushing yards on five carries in the first half, giving the Panthers a little burst they had not gotten much of in exhibition play.
AJ Dillon kept making his case as the bruiser on the roster. The 28-year-old veteran ran for 16 tough yards and a touchdown on five carries, then added an 11-yard catch.
Dillon’s power stands out on a depth chart that does not really have another back with that same style. If Carolina keeps three running backs, Etienne’s special teams work could still give him the edge over Dillon behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks.
But Dillon’s short-yardage ability may be enough to force the Panthers to consider carrying more in the backfield.
Jimmy Horn Jr. also helped himself in the fight for a spot at the back end of the receiver room. The fan favorite showed off his versatility with a 29-yard kickoff return, then popped loose for a 39-yard run and later hauled in a 15-yard reception. That kind of multi-use production can go a long way when the numbers get tight.
John Metchie III was one of the biggest passing-game bright spots. In the third quarter, Carolina’s offense turned into a Kenny Pickett-to-Metchie operation, with the pair moving the ball against Jacksonville multiple times. Metchie finished with six catches on seven targets for a game-high 77 receiving yards.
Patrick Jones II also put something useful on tape. The outside linebacker missed most of 2025 because of a back injury that limited him to four games in his first season with the Panthers, but he showed some disruption Friday night by recording a sack of Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens. With Nic Scourton out for the year with a torn ACL, Jones could end up with a much bigger role in 2026, even without Jaelan Phillips next to him.
Chau Smith-Wade had a rough early moment when Ameer Ambdullah shook him badly for a 23-yard gain in the second quarter. But the nickel corner answered with a big play of his own, jumping a Carter Bradley pass and coming away with an interception. Smith-Wade is still battling Corey Thornton for the starting slot job, and that kind of playmaking will keep him firmly in the mix.
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Cam Little Is Suddenly Part Of A Wild New NFL Debate
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Littles mark now sits in an odd little pocket of the sport, because Butkers kick was longer but unofficial, and the distinction matters in a game where the line between exhibition and history is everything. Butker has been in Kansas City since 2017 and remains one of the most accurate kickers the league has ever seen, which only adds to the curiosity around where this distance debate could go next for a Jaguars team that already knows its kicker belongs in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Travis Hunter Gave Jaguars Fans A Wild Off Field Moment
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Jaguars Loss Put A Few Surprise Roster Names In Focus
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Jabbar Muhammad, listed on the second string, added six tackles in a busy showing on defense, while Ameer Abdullah topped the team in rushing yards and Michael Wortham was perfect when the ball came his way. Cam Little also handled his business, hitting all three of his field-goal tries, giving the Jaguars a few encouraging individual moments to sort through as they continue trimming the roster and deciding who is worth a closer look. [Read more 🡒]