Off of the heels of a successful Hall of Fame Game performance, the Carolina Panthers looked to continue to roll heading into Buffalo. Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan.

Dave Canales set a range of 10-20 “good plays” he wanted to see from the starters, and most fans can agree that neither side but forth an effort to earn those good reps.

Carolina’s defense got gashed in the pass game, but was able to get consistent pressure on Josh Allen in the red zone. The offense, however, was a different story.

Between penalties and poor performances, Carolina’s starting unit went onto the brand new field at Buffalo’s new Highmark Stadium and converted a whopping zero first downs on three drives.

Bryce Young was pressured on seemingly every dropback, only going 3/5 for 18 yards and registering a sack. The run game got stuffed on 2/3 of Jonathon Brooks’ attempts, netting the talented back only five rushing yards in his first action since 2024.

Whether or not you want to debate if the sky is falling down for the team, there were real issues on display. Perhaps the most unfortunate part is that these issues have been discussed by fans throughout the past few seasons, and haven’t been adequately addressed.

Let’s take a look at some of Carolina’s biggest blunders in this contest.

Guard Depth

I’d like to preface this point by acknowledging the absence of starters Damien Lewis and Rob Hunt in this game. Having both starting guards likely would’ve made a difference in this contest.

The duo’s absence in this contest, however, is a key factor in the issue of Carolina’s guard depth. Hunt missed almost the entirety of last season, and Lewis has hardly practiced in training camp this year.

It isn’t a guarantee that both players will be healthy for all 17 regular season contests.

Once you get past those two on the depth chart, it starts to get pretty bad in a hurry. Brady Christensen has been a valuable backup, but is still coming off of an Achilles injury he suffered midway through last season. Hopefully he will return to form.

Carolina’s biggest problem is this area is their lack of development, particularly with fourth-year guard Chandler Zavala. Zavala is the only other remaining member of the 2023 Draft Class (Bryce Young).

Hailing from NC State where he played alongside Ickey Ekwonu, Zavala has spent the last three seasons as a backup guard for the Panthers, filling in for the infinite OL injuries the team has been subjected to.

Zavala’s play has mostly been below average to poor over that time frame, never really taking a step to push either guard starter for playing time.

He’s had his moments, like in the Hall of Fame Game, but against NFL-caliber starters, it hasn’t looked great. This wouldn’t be the biggest of issues if Zavala were OL10 or beyond, but currently he’s slated to be the primary backup at both guard spots.

If Hunt or Lewis miss extended periods of time, having Zavala be one of the lynchpin players along the offensive line does not bode well for the offense.

On Monday (8.17) the team tried him at center in practice, seemingly trying to find a positive role for the fourth-year guard. Center depth is less of a question with the acquisitions of Luke Fortner and Sam Hecht, but maybe that’s where Zavala can have a role.

This isn’t an exercise just to harp on Zavala, but rather point out that he is the key backup to a position already exposed to injury. If Carolina doesn’t bolster the interior offensive line depth, it could come back to haunt them mid-season.

Defensive Scheme

Carolina’s other main blemish in this contest was the defense, specifically the scheme.

Let me be clear - I’m not expecting Carolina to run a ton of post-snap movements, send fire blitzes every down, or try to do something too exotic in the preseason.

But can we stop doing stuff like this? Giving almost ten yards of cushion on a 4th and 3 is asking the other team if they’d like to convert for free.

This play is probably an extreme example, but the pass defense was consistently carved up throughout the afternoon. When the starters were in, both Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson seemed to be out of place, leading to big pass plays for Buffalo.

Again, it is just the preseason. But playing more soft zone looks will only lead to smart quarterbacks and coordinators carving the defense up.

Now that Carolina has invested in players like Phillips and Lloyd, the need to rely so heavily on zone needs to dwindle. Horn and Jackson are some of the best physical corners in the league - it’s time to let them man up more often.

Like the guard depth issues, the defensive scheme has been a point of contention among Panthers fans for the past few years. Hopefully with higher-paid and performing talent, more diverse calls can be implemented to try and disrupt offenses, rather than letting them disrupt the Panthers.

Good Stuff

While the game was largely a blowout, there were still bright spots for Panthers fans to cheer for:

• Jaelan Phillips played like he was worth every penny of his $30 million per year deal. In just a handful of pass rush snaps, Phillips recorded a couple pressures and his first sack as a Panther.

• Just like Phillips, Princely Umanmielen answered the call filling in for the injured Pat Jones II. Umanmielen fought past the Bills’ starting offensive line to pressure Josh Allen a few times as well, including the pressure that led to Phillips’ sack.

• Devin Lloyd also looks to be worth his deal, flying down to fit the run and looked rangy in coverage.

• Ja’Seem Reed and John Metchie III both continued to impress, each hauling in a touchdown. The back end of the receiver room will be heavily contested between the young receivers.

• Just like in Canton, Zakee Wheatley continued to fly around making plays in both the run and pass game. Wheatley could be an important contributor in the secondary this season.

• Finally, and perhaps most importantly, first round draft selection Monroe Freeling looked the part with the starters. During his first NFL reps, Freeling held his own against guys like Greg Rosseau and Bradley Chubb. If Freeling looks like this during some of his first snaps at right tackle in the NFL, the ceiling will be pretty high.

Looking Ahead to Jacksonville

Fortunately, the NFL is a week-to-week game, and Carolina will have a chance to put the Buffalo game in the rearview mirror in Jacksonville. The Panthers flew down to Florida and have begun their joint practices with the Jags as of Wednesday (8.19).

Jacksonville will present a unique challenge for this group. Liam Coen had the offense firing on all cylinders last season, and defensive play-caller Anthony Campanile brought new energy to the defense. This will be quite the litmus test for the Panthers.

Some of the things that I’d like to see include:

• How does Carolina’s offensive line hold up against the physical defensive front of Jacksonville? Particularly, how does Monroe Freeling fare against Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker?

• How will Evero’s defense attempt to contain a high-octane Jaguars offense? Now that he has the pieces at every level of the defense, can the scheme actually shut down a good offensive team?

• Which receivers will separate themselves? Jacksonville’s weaknesses on defense can allow for big gains downfield, so who among the receiver group can take a lead in the position battle?

• Devin Lloyd’s return to where he was drafted. Can Lloyd show both Jags and Panthers fans that his AP All-Pro selection last season was just the beginning?

Early returns from the joint practices do not look great according to social media.

For Carolina, hopefully they can rectify the mistakes over the next two days and into the preseason matchup against their fellow Class of ‘95 Jacksonville Jaguars. Another drubbing like what the team saw in Buffalo can’t happen.

Ultimately, this is still just training camp/preseason, but good teams practice how they play. If the Panthers want to avoid a third consecutive slow start to the season in the Morgan/Canales/Young era, then something has to change for the better.

Ahead of the 2026 college football season, I’ll be dropping my preseason power rankings for the five major teams in the Carolina, including Clemson, Duke, NC State, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Checking in at No. 2 is the NC State Wolfpack.

Every few years NC State has a team that appears poised to be a dark horse in the ACC, most recently in 2024. Yet every year that team tends to fall on its face and underwhelm. Can head coach Dave Doeren finally break that cycle this season with hype building around quarterback CJ Bailey and the surrounding core? 2026 may very well be a repeat of the cycle, but this year’s schedule offers a unique opportunity for the Wolfpack to finally break through.

While ideally I’d avoid starting with the schedule for a power ranking, it’s impossible to ignore NC State’s slate of games. The Pack will face just one team ranked in the preseason AP Top 25: No. 24 Louisville at home. Outside of the Cardinals the Wolfpack’s toughest matchups are road games at Virginia and Vanderbilt. That trio of opponents comes in the first half of the season before the home stretch opens up with several lower tier ACC opponents. If NC State can win even one of those games, a 10 win campaign is on the table.

While the offense saw plenty of change, three key pieces remain intact: head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback. QB CJ Bailey enters his third year in the program with 22 total starts and strong familiarity with offensive coordinator Kurt Roper’s system. I’d expect Bailey to take another step forward this year. Bailey is now a team captain and is evolving into a more vocal leader in addition to his work on the field.

Bailey’s strengths as a quarterback stem from his impressive physical traits. A six-foot-six athletic playmaker, Bailey has the arm strength needed to attack any spot on the field and enough speed to navigate the pocket and scramble for first downs. Additionally, he’s proven he can work efficiently through reads, demonstrated by his 68.8% completion percentage. Where Bailey still struggles is making smart reads under pressure, leading to risky throws. Additionally, Bailey occasionally sails passes over receivers in the intermediate game. Improving one or both of these problems would elevate Bailey from one of the better ACC quarterbacks to a nationally elite QB.

While Bailey remains, his top offensive teammates are gone. Running back Hollywood Smothers, offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak, and receivers Noah Rogers and Terrell Anderson transferred out to bigger programs, while tight end Justin Joly was drafted by the Denver Broncos. Additionally, breakout receiver Teddy Hoffman is suspended for the entire 2026 season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. If the Wolfpack wants to build off of last season, it will need its young players and new transfers to step up.

The Wolfpack will look to Duke Scott to lead the running back room this season. Scott racked up 595 yards on the ground with 5.6 yards per carry. In his two starts against No. 8 Georgia Tech and Memphis, Scott achieved over 100 yards in both games. Against the Yellow Jackets, Scott pounded Georgia Tech’s defense for 196 rushing yards and was instrumental in NC State’s ability to pull off the upset. Scott’s combination of power and speed, shown by his 375 pound power clean and 4.35 40 yard dash, makes him especially dangerous. After receiving the No. 1 jersey, a prestigious honor awarded annually by the coaching staff for leadership, it’s clear that Scott will be the top option for the Pack in the run game.

While Scott will receive much of the workload on first and second downs, UNC transfer Davion Gause and quarterback Will Wilson will see snaps on third downs. In limited action, Gause showed promise as a pass catcher and is a better blocker than Scott. Meanwhile, Wilson proved to be a short yardage specialist for NC State last season despite being a QB. Wilson ran in 10 touchdowns last year and was often called upon to move the chains in short yardage situations.

At receiver, Keenan Jackson is the lone returner that is expected to play a key role. The Waxhaw native is a quality X receiver who can win jump balls with his large frame and will look to build off a 281 yard sophomore campaign. Inside, I expect Buffalo transfer Victor Snow to start in the slot. While Snow is only five-foot-eight, he’s incredibly dangerous after the catch and earned 1st-Team All-MAC honors last season. Snow will also contribute on special teams.

The Wolfpack will need at least one more player to step up as a receiver. NC State will need someone to stretch the field on the outside, which is where App State transfer Davion Dozier and Miami transfer Joshisha Trader fit in. Dozier is the more established player with a whopping 20.4 yards per catch last year and a key piece for the Mountaineers. Trader has more upside as a former top 100 high school prospect with a track background. Notably, Trader played high school football with Bailey at Chaminade-Madonna.

The Wolfpack is replacing most of its production at tight end and will lean on Montana State transfer Hunter Provience and Oregon transfer Vander Ploog. Provience is a proven pass blocker and FCS national champion, while Ploog has untapped potential as a former four star prospect.

On the offensive line, the Wolfpack enjoyed key wins by retaining right tackle Teague Andersen and center Spike Sowells Jr. Bringing back Sowells was particularly important after he surrendered just four pressures and no sacks in 128 pass blocking snaps. At guard there’s a three way competition between Kamen Smith, Yousef Mugharbil, and Texas transfer Daniel Cruz. For now I’d project Mugharbil to start at left guard, Smith at right guard, and Cruz to be a versatile backup. Rounding out the offensive line is left tackle Jimarion McCrimon, an ECU transfer who leans towards being a better pass protector than run blocker.

Defensively, NC State returns defensive coordinator DJ Eliot for year 2. He’ll run a 3-4 scheme with two high safeties. Last year’s defense was wildly inconsistent with the new scheme and a rash of injuries, but with a year to build the defense to fit his scheme better the defense should improve.

The defensive line is likely NC State’s biggest question mark. At nose tackle, Josiah Victor is expected to step in to replace Brandon Cleveland, who was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders. Isaiah Shirley is a safe bet to start on the end, who notably earned a scoop and score vs Wake Forest last season. I’d also watch for Joseph Adedire to rotate in on passing downs and Colby Cronk, a defensive end with impressive physical tools, to factor into the rotation.

Harvey Dyson III, a Tulane transfer, was one of the Pack’s biggest transfer portal additions this year and could lead the Wolfpack in sacks from the “Jack” position. Dyson posted eight sacks last year in a breakout campaign, including sacks in the Green Wave’s biggest games in the AAC championship and first round of the College Football Playoff.

Under Doeren, NC State has produced several exceptional linebackers. The Wolfpack is hoping that Miami transfer Popo Aguirre Jr. can be the next great linebacker in Raleigh. Aguirre appeared in 39 games with the Hurricanes, primarily in a reserve role. However, when he got his opportunity on the field he displayed excellent instincts and the ability to play fast. While Aguirre is undersized, he’s the safest bet to see the field at linebacker for the Pack.

Elsewhere in the linebacker room, I’d watch out for AJ Richardson and Penn State transfer DaKaari Nelson. Richardson was a standout at the Juco level and is now a team captain for the Wolfpack. Expect Richardson to provide run support on early downs. Nelson is likely to play in passing situations and is a converted safety who excels in zone coverage.

The secondary has the highest upside of any area on the defense. Brian Nelson II returns and will start on the outside as a high risk-high reward corner who will try to bait QBs into risky throws. Opposite of Nelson, I project Georgia transfer Ondre Evans to take the other outside corner spot. Evans struggled with injuries with the Bulldogs, but is a former four star prospect that the Wolfpack wanted out of high school. After a brief tour in Athens, Evans arrives in Raleigh with elite speed and will likely be tasked with locking down opposing vertical speed threats.

At nickel, Jackson Vick returns after gaining valuable experience last season. Vick struggled with the role early but improved by the end of the year. Rounding out the secondary are safeties Ronnie Royal and Penn State transfer King Mack. Royal is an undersized, but hyper athletic free safety who was once a blue chip recruit. Like Vick, Royal worked through a learning curve last season, but became much better in the final weeks of the season. Mack is also an undersized safety, but holds up as a steady tackler. Additionally, Mack has impressive speed and is a nice option as a last line of defense.

The Wolfpack will depend on transfers across the board to maximize its window with Bailey. However, with a soft schedule and some hits in transfer evaluation, 2026 has the potential to be one of Doeren’s best seasons. While I believe the Pack ultimately falls short of an elusive ACC championship game appearance, the stars are aligned for NC State to win nine plus games and maintain the steady model of consistently being good that Doeren has established.

The Charlotte Hornets completed a trade on Friday that brought Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder to Charlotte in exchange for Tre Mann.

Schroder, who will turn 33 in September, has previous ties to each of Charles Lee and Jeff Peterson, and projects to be the Hornets’ backup point guard this coming season.

But what does he bring? And what are the long-term implications of this trade?

I dove into all of that, and more.

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Ahead of the 2026 college football season, I’ll be dropping my preseason power rankings for the five major teams in the Carolina, including Clemson, Duke, NC State, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Today the series rolls on with No. 3 South Carolina.

2025 was nothing short of a disaster for South Carolina. Entering the year with College Football Playoff aspirations, the Gamecocks face planted enroute to a 4-8 record. With a dead in the water offense and a tendency to fall apart late, most notably blowing a 27 point lead at Texas A&M, it may seem strange to rank the Gamecocks so high. However, South Carolina’s roster is filled with potential NFL talent and made a key staffing hire to bring optimism.

After just one season, offensive coordinator Mike Shula is out. Shula’s offense appeared to set quarterback LaNorris Sellers back and failed to establish much of an identity. In comes TCU’s Kendall Briles with his up tempo spread offense. With its roots originating at the high school level, Briles scheme is a welcome change by simplifying the offense after Shula’s complex pro style offense. To me, this is the most important move for the Gamecocks this entire offseason.

At quarterback, LaNorris Sellers is set to start for a third consecutive season. Sellers is a big, athletic dual threat quarterback. To me, Sellers’ super power is his ability to avoid defenders by throwing off players and juking his way through traffic. Paired with a strong arm to push the ball downfield, Sellers is an excellent fit for Briles offense. If Sellers can clean up his progressions and cut down on turnovers, there’s potential for Sellers to reemerge as a household name as he did in 2024.

Outside of offensive coordinator, the Gamecocks biggest weakness was the offensive line. Sellers was sacked 42 times last season, third most of any QB in the nation last season. While some of that comes with Sellers’ determination to create something out of broken plays, the offensive line did him no favors. South Carolina reeled in NC State’s star left tackle Jacarrius Peak, arguably the best offensive lineman in the transfer portal this offseason. While Peak suffered a knee injury in February, he is expected to return early in the season and is a critical anchor for the offensive line with NFL upside.

Outside of Peak, the rest of the offensive line is full of position battles. Five star freshman Darius Gray has the highest upside on the interior and was compared to Cleveland Browns guard Zion Johnson by 247 Sports. Shed Sarratt Jr appears to be the favorite at right tackle after seeing significant playing time as a freshman last year and showcased incredible raw strength, but will need to improve his balance. The rest of the line remains a mystery, but I’d keep an eye on UCF transfer Carter Miller at center who’s an experienced five year player with 29 career starts.

Much like the offensive line, the skill positions are filled with moving pieces with spots up for grabs. Six-foot-five receiver Nyck Harbor is slated to be the Gamecocks top target. His size and speed combination makes him lethal on vertical routes. As a former elite track athlete, Harbor clocked in an impressive high of 22.4 miles per hour last season and has gotten better every year. Given Sellers arm strength and Briles desire to push the ball downfield, I expect Harbor to be the focal point of the passing game and is a dark horse All-SEC candidate.

Outside of Harbor, it gets much more challenging to project starters. As a true freshman, Jayden Sellers, younger brother of LaNorris, emerged late with 337 yards. I believe Sellers has the upside to carve out a key role thanks to his elusive ability after the catch and chemistry with his brother at QB. Meanwhile Brady Hunt projects to be the top tight end for the Gamecocks. While Hunt has yet to break out in Columbia, he showed great potential at Ball State as a safety valve before transferring. Briles typically prioritizes tight ends and should unlock some of that potential.

The Gamecocks have a pair of unproven, but talented running backs who will battle for the starting role. Matt Fuller is a speedy player who’s spent the past two seasons developing behind older players. Meanwhile Christian Clark is a Texas transfer that’s flashed as a strong, power back in limited action with the Longhorns. If at least one of the two backs can emerge as an average SEC running back, the Gamecocks run game should take a step forward.

Defensively, the Gamecocks have less questions. Defensive coordinator Clayton White returns for year 6 in Columbia and has proven to be one of the best staff hires head coach Shane Beamer has made. Utilizing a 4-2-5 scheme, White’s defenses regularly create pressure and turnovers. While turnovers can be volatile, I expect it to continue given White’s track record.

The most talented player on the Gamecocks is Dylan Stewart, a monster off the edge, who has the upside to be a top ten selection in the upcoming NFL Draft. With 11 sacks in his first two seasons, Stewart is already used to taking on double teams. His impressive speed off the edge will draw the attention of offensive lines and open things up for the rest of the defense. Additionally, Stewart is a hard hitter with six career forced fumbles and plays to White’s strength of forcing turnovers.

Opposite of Stewart, I expect true freshman Julian Walker and Tennessee transfer Caleb Herring to both contribute on a rotational basis. Both have the size and athletic tools to be effective in the SEC, despite a lack of experience. Herring did enjoy a career best four sacks last season at Tennessee and may have the edge early in the battle. On the interior, it appears murky who will start, but it’s a critical spot for South Carolina in run defense.

South Carolina’s linebackers are one of the biggest wildcards on the team. Justin Okoronkwo is a freak athlete who was inconsistent last season. However, when he’s at his best he can be a game wrecker in run defense. If he can find some consistency, he’ll be a force to deal with. Similar to Okoronkwo, Fred Johnson was a bit erratic last season but is a big, athletic force. Breaking out in last year’s opener against Virginia Tech, Johnson struggled to find that same success in SEC play, but the potential is there to be a quality starter.

While USC lost key pieces in the secondary including cornerback Brandon Cisse, who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, the Gamecocks still have an abundance of talent. Cornerbacks Vicari Swain and Judge Collier return with experience at corner, while Peyton Williams will start for a second season at safety. The Gamecocks also found SEC experience in the transfer portal, securing Kentucky’s Quay’Sheed Scott who can play in the nickel.

A lot has to go right for South Carolina’s offense to bounce back, but the pieces are there to succeed. If the defense remains a strength and Briles unlocks Sellers full potential, the Gamecocks are a dangerous team that could win eight plus games. However, the SEC schedule will be merciless if things go south. However, I think it’s most likely that Beamer makes it work and builds some momentum heading into 2027.

Late Wednesday evening, the Panthers made a move. The team signed former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller to a one-year deal, bolstering a weak tight end room that was the source of much debate on social media.

Waller may be far-removed from his consecutive 1000-yard seasons, but he still has some juice left in the tank. Waller registered receptions in eight of his nine game with Miami last season, also hauling in six touchdowns.

Ironically, his best performance was arguably against Carolina in the Panthers’ Week 5 victory over the Dolphins.

I’m not certain Waller will find his former Oakland/Las Vegas form again with the Panthers. To be frank, I’m not even sure if Waller will end up contributing much, if at all this season.

What I am sure of, however, is that the Panthers brass have had a good look at the tight end group all offseason, and decided that there needed to be an infusion of talent.

Whether the group is disappointed in the progress of players like Mitchell Evans or Ja’Tavion Sanders (now 3rd on the unofficial depth chart), or the team was always going to look at adding a tight end, the change has been made.

Now that Carolina has made a move, they have shown a willingness to address areas that need clear improvement. This is a good thing, in my opinion, indicating a willingness that may not have been there in year’s past.

The problem, however, is that this team still has a few position groups that could use a similar injection of competition.

Let’s take a look at a few positions Carolina could still add some external help before the regular season begins.

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Edge Rusher

Following the season-ending injury to Nic Scourton, edge rusher is by far the position that needs help the most. As I mentioned in our review of the Hall of Fame Game, the Panthers reserve edge rushers were simply incapable of generating pressure on the Cardinals backups.

Combine this with the fact that the starters at that position, Pat Jones II and Jaelan Philips, aren’t exactly paragons of health. Edge rusher could become a massive problem in a hurry if the team doesn’t find adequate depth.

In August, no position group is going to have star free agents available, but luckily for Carolina, the market is robust with older veterans that could contribute in a rotational role.

Names like Haason Reddick and Yetur Gross-Matos are familiar with the Charlotte area, while other vets like Joey Bosa, Marcus Davenport, or Derek Barnett could also give a few snaps to the rotation.

Linebacker

Similar to the edge rusher position, Carolina added an extremely talented player in Devin Lloyd to be the guy in the linebacker room. After Lloyd, however, it gets pretty murky.

Currently, third-year linebacker Trevin Wallace is slated in as Lloyd’s running mate. This spot could change before the season starts, according to Dave Canales.

When your third-year Top 100 draft pick hasn’t taken the reins as a starter, it becomes a bit concerning.

After Wallace and Claudin Cherelus, whom he’s competing with to be the starter, the linebacker room is filled with undrafted free agents and 2026 7th round pick Jackson Kuwatch.

Also similar to the edge rusher market, there are a few names that could step in and quickly have a role with the team.

Bobby Okereke, Bobby Wagner, Germaine Pratt, and Logan Wilson could all reasonably provide good depth in the room. Fan-favorite Shaq Thompson is also currently a free agent after a year in Buffalo.

Despite all of the available names, this is probably the position I expect the least to be addressed. Edge rusher and the next group likely need more help, and Carolina likely can’t solve every problem at once.

Running Back*

This group may come as a surprise to some fans, considering the depth which the team deployed in the HOF Game and the incumbent players already on the team. However, Thursday morning, fans were hit with some tough news.

Starter Chuba Hubbard injured his hamstring and will likely miss the rest of the preseason.

If he’s expected to be back by Week One, adding a long-term rotation piece doesn’t seem likely. The Panthers probably could stand to add another back to handle some of the preseason, joint practice, and training camp practices, though.

With the hopeful emergence of Jonathon Brooks, and the utility that both Trevor Etienne and AJ Dillon bring, it’s hard to imagine needing a high-end Hubbard replacement in the interim.

Should Hubbard’s injury linger, I could see the team addressing it with a more prominent name. Alexander Mattison, Antonio Gibson, and Najee Harris are all players with good experience that could step in if the Panthers need to make a call.

NFL offseasons are always turbulent. One minute, a team might feel good about a certain position. The next, they might add a veteran tight end that just came out of retirement last year.

Whether or not Carolina chooses to address the aforementioned positions, it’s good to see a team that’s not only aware of their weaknesses, but is willing to to a chance to improve them.

If Waller can give this team 5-10 good routes every game, it’ll be more than what the Panthers got from the spot last year.

We’re so back.

After an incredible back-and-forth game from the Cardinals and the Panthers, undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King put on a show in the second half, leading Carolina to multiple scoring drives and the eventual game-winner as time expired.

While the score of this game ultimately doesn’t matter, it was an excellent showing for fans. This was definitely the most entertaining Hall of Fame Game that I can remember.

As I mentioned in our pre-game article, the main course of this meal was backups and rookies showing what they can do. King was the headliner of our names to watch, and he certainly did not disappoint.

However, there were more takeaways to focus on than just the stellar quarterback performance. Before we get into this week’s contest, let’s take a look at some of the key points from Carolina’s 1-0 start to the 2026 preseason.

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Quarterback Controversy?

Let’s be real, as much as some fans enjoyed King’s performance on Thursday, there is no controversy over who the starter will be this season.

I’m not sure that there’s controversy over the primary backup position, either. The Panthers made a concerted effort to get a veteran backup this offseason, and I doubt King is automatically QB2 bound just because of one great half of football.

Where the “controversy” lies in the team’s decision-making going forward is whether or not to use one of the 53 main roster spots on Haynes King this season.

Carolina has only rostered two quarterbacks over the first seasons of the Morgan/Canales era. Dave Canales stressed during the offseason that he’d like to have a young, developmental backup, but the idea likely included King being on the practice squad to start the year.

After King's performance in Canton, however, that plan may not be possible.

Another wrinkle in this process is King injuring his hamstring on the final play of the game. If King’s sample is limited to only his HOF Game tape, which is pretty good, the team will have an even tougher decision.

Hopefully we get to see more of King, who was able to show off what he can do with his arm, throughout the rest of the preseason.

Other HOF Game Notes

• The trench play on both sides of the ball was hit-or-miss. Carolina’s offensive line struggled early against the Cardinals’ veteran-laden front, but settled once King took over

• Carolina’s defensive line was the bigger worry. Aside from an up-and-down performance against the run, the unit didn’t generate much pressure on the quarterbacks. The edge rusher rotation was particularly disappointing

• Defensive back was another wishy-washy position in this game. Will Lee III made a big play early with a 3rd down PBU, but followed it up with falling to every double move the Cardinals threw at him. Fellow rookie Zakee Wheatley put on a show, fitting the run and displaying NFL-level range on the backend

• By far the most impressive position group were the receivers. John Metchie III, Ja’Seem Reed, and Jimmy Horn Jr. all came alive at some point to make plays both as receivers, and in the return game. All three players showed that they will be worth keeping once cut day comes around

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Starters Playing In Buffalo

Last week was fun, but Saturday against the Bills will be the first chance to see the starters in action. Dave Canales indicated that he wanted the starters to have about 10-20 plays, similar to what the group did during last year’s preseason games.

The range from ten to twenty plays seems to mean that Canales wants the team to put forth one good drive or a few drives where the offense can move the chains and the defense can make things difficult for Buffalo.

Fans will look forward to seeing a lot of the favorites get their time on Saturday, but one player has the chance to make a huge impression - not just for the fanbase but for the coaching staff.

This will be Jonathon Brooks’ first snaps since the 2024 season. When asked about the plan for Brooks on Saturday, Dave Canales sounding incredibly optimistic:

“Absolutely…He’s in great shape, he’s ready to rock, he’s ready to play football. And so now that’s just the next part of it, and, you know, he’ll play with the first group. He’ll mix in and out with Chuba and we’ll be able to get a good look at those guys…”

- Dave Canales when asked about Brooks’ availability against Buffalo

Despite the additions over the past few seasons, the Panthers offense still lacks explosive ability and juice. If Brooks is healthy and moves like he was a Texas a few seasons ago, he can be a source of explosive plays this team desperately needs.

Brad Idzik’s First Real Test

Last Thursday’s contest was the first time Brad Idzik called a complete game, and he did a pretty good job. While the offense was mainly vanilla concepts, he showed some wrinkles that highlighted the strengths of his players, especially giving Haynes King good opportunities.

Buffalo will be the first time Idzik gets the chance to call plays for Bryce Young and the starters since becoming the full time guy. With the 10-20 play range in mind, this will be a great opportunity for the Idzik/Young connection to grow over a few drives.

I don’t think any fan expects Idzik to empty the playbook this week for the starters, but the rhythm and cadence between play-caller and quarterback should be on display in this game.

The most ideal outcome would be no procedural penalties for the offense, as well as Idzik giving the group one or two chances to air it out. Having command of the offense while the starters are in the game is good enough for me.

Can We Get Some Pressure?

Perhaps the most disappointing result from the Hall of Fame Game was the lack of pressure on Arizona’s third (a rookie) and fourth string quarterbacks.

Despite winning the sack battle (two to Arizona’s one), the defensive front allowed time for multiple deep shots that were converted, and almost routinely were gashed in the run game.

Understandably, there weren’t many exotic looks, stunts, or blitzes from the second level, but the group still didn’t force the quarterbacks into making bad decisions.

This week, fans and the Panthers coaches alike will probably want to see more from the defensive front. If the Bills play their starters to counter Carolina’s, it’ll be the best possible litmus test for the defensive line trying to bring down Josh Allen.

Pass rush has long been an issue in Carolina, and if the team doesn’t find depth that stands out in the upcoming preseason contests, the team may need to look externally for answers.

Just like with last week’s game, the final score doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of this season. What does matter is how well the starters are able to come out of the gate, and how well the depth players continue to play within the Panthers system.

It would be nice if Carolina continued their winning streak, but ultimately, Idzik meshing with the starters is far more important.

Ahead of the 2026 college football season, I’ll be dropping my preseason power rankings for the five major teams in the Carolina, including Clemson, Duke, NC State, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Today we continue with the Duke Blue Devils, checking in ahead of North Carolina.

The reigning ACC champions will have their work cut out for them after losing quarterback Darian Mensah to the transfer portal. However, Manny Diaz earned the benefit of the doubt last season by guiding the Blue Devils to their first ACC title since 1989.

The Blue Devils offense will likely center around running back Nate Sheppard. While Mensah and the passing attack stole the show last season, Sheppard quietly impressed with 1132 yards on the ground, second most in the ACC. Sheppard’s ability to make defenders miss proved to be lethal. While he’s not the biggest or the fastest running back, he’s certainly one of the craftiest backs in the nation. If Sheppard can replicate his 5.7 yards per carry average this season, Duke will be well-positioned for success.

The quarterback battle will be pivotal for Duke. The Blue Devils have three options, which include San Jose State transfer Walker Eget, North Alabama transfer Ari Patu, and returning backup Dan Mahan. For now, Eget seems to be the most likely starter after starting the past two years at San Jose State. Eget is primarily a pocket passer and has a tendency to make risky throws. It shows in his high turnover numbers, throwing 19 interceptions over the last two seasons. Eget also was unable to complete 60% of his passes each of the past two seasons. If Duke rolls with Eget, watch for the Blue Devils to be a highly volatile offense.

The Blue Devils are also replacing standout wide receiver Cooper Barkate, who joined Mensah at Miami. Duke will turn to Penn transfer Jared Richardson, who totaled at least 600 yards and seven touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. Moving up from FCS to ACC certainly poses questions for Richardson though, so it’s no guarantee his skillset will translate. With an inexperienced room outside of Richardson, the Penn Transfer’s success is critical for Duke’s offense.

Fortunately for the Blue Devils, tight end Jeremiah Hasley returns after a breakout season. A Preseason All ACC selection, Hasley is one of the best tight ends in the conference and will be a reliable option for whoever wins the quarterback battle. While he’s not the biggest or the fastest tight end, Hasley has reliable hands and runs sharp routes, which should help raise the floor for the Blue Devils’ offense.

The Blue Devils retained key players on the interior of the offensive line, but will need to replace both tackles. Duke attacked the transfer market and secured Nick Del Grande from Coastal Carolina and Braden Miller from Cal. Del Grande is an experienced two-time All Sun Belt selection who earned the highest PFF season grade amongst Sun Belt offensive tackles last season. Miller meanwhile has made seven career starts and is a bigger gamble for the Blue Devils, but has all the athletic tools needed to succeed in the ACC.

Defensively, Duke lost significant talent, most notably cornerback Chandler Rivers and defensive end Wesley Williams. The Blue Devils will need a number of unproven pieces to emerge for the defense to live up to head coach Manny Diaz’s defensive standards.

Arguably the biggest upside piece for Duke is defensive end Bryce Davis. Davis is a former four star, top 100 recruit out of Grimsley High School where he racked up 27 sacks as a senior. Star ratings aren’t gospel, but they do show upside and athletic traits which Davis possesses. After spending most of last year developing, Davis is a prime breakout candidate that Duke will need to emerge as a quality pass rusher.

The interior of the defensive line also remains unproven. Options include Penn State transfer Owen Wafle and returners Preston Watson and David Anderson. None have played significant snaps at the collegiate level making it a major area of concern. The Blue Devils will need someone to step up from this group in order for the defense to be functional.

The linebacking room is more promising with Luke Mergott returning. Mergott emerged as a breakout player last season as a tall, do it all linebacker. A steady tackler with underrated speed, Mergott is the anchor that the Blue Devils will lean on this season. I’d watch for Elliott Schaper to compete for a starting role after showing some promise before a season ending injury last season. Nick Morris Jr, who returns for a sixth season, should also compete for a starting role after spending much of his career as a depth piece.

Some of Duke’s best transfer portal work came in the secondary. Retooling the unit was critical, but Diaz found a pair of potential gems in Montana’s Kyon Loud and Western Kentucky’s Dylan Flowers. While Loud didn’t have any interceptions last season, quarterbacks largely avoided throwing his way thanks to his coverage ability. Flowers journey to Duke included several schools from College of the Canyons to Western Kentucky. During that time, Flowers developed strong zone coverage skills. Whether or not Loud and Flowers will translate to the ACC is unknown, but they’ve succeeded in previous stops.

On paper, there’s too many questions to project Duke to contend for the ACC title again. However, Manny Diaz proved he can find talent with many overlooked players shining during Duke’s 2025 ACC title run. For now, Duke can expect to still be a bowl team that can cycle back up next season as their starters gain valuable experience.

Ahead of the 2026 college football season, I’ll be dropping my preseason power rankings for the five major teams in the Carolina, including Clemson, Duke, NC State, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Today we begin at the bottom of the power rankings with the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Last season was nothing but a train wreck for North Carolina last season under head coach Bill Belichick. The Tar Heels lost five of their first seven games and never recovered en route to a 4-8 finish and missed a bowl game for the first time since 2018.

Belichick aggressively reshaped his operation this season, starting at offensive coordinator. Replacing offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens with former Arkansas and Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino should inject some creativity into the playcalling. It’s fair to question the hire given Petrino’s past, but from purely an on-field perspective this is an upgrade.

The roster also saw significant turnover this offseason with 61 new players entering the program. Whether it works is impossible to know, but it was certainly necessary after missing on several evaluations last season.

The biggest key for North Carolina will be finding capable quarterback play after a roller coaster season with Gio Lopez, who’s since transferred out to Wake Forest. Billy Edwards Jr. appears to be the favorite to start for the Tar Heels in his sixth season. After spending four years at Maryland, including starting in 2024, Edwards played at Wisconsin last year but suffered an early season injury. While not an elite athlete, Edwards showed the ability to be a capable game manager in 2024 with Maryland. It’s also worth mentioning that if things don’t click with Edwards, the Heels have Travis Burgess, a six-foot-five freshman who was highly touted coming out of high school.

While North Carolina didn’t have a star back last season, they do return Demon June and Benjamin Hall as a potential running back by committee. June exploded for over 100 yards against both Richmond and Syracuse last season, but was otherwise inconsistent against tougher competition. I’d expect him to factor in as a pass catcher and speedy runner. Meanwhile Hall never had a true breakout game, but can be a safe, early down runner.

Wide receiver Jordan Shipp was one of the few bright spots last season. Posting 671 yards and 6 touchdowns last season, Shipp is a reliable outside receiver. I was particularly impressed with his route running which should help Edwards have a reliable first option. Opposite of Shipp, Mason Humphrey, a Lehigh transfer, is the most promising option. A six-foot-four receiver who can win jump balls, Humphrey produced for three years at Lehigh showing statistical improvement each season. However the jump from the FCS to the ACC is massive so it may take Humphrey time to adjust to bigger and faster competition.

The offensive line was an area of weakness last season, consistently struggling with penalties last year. The Tar Heels injected some new talent into the right side of the line with guard Andrew Threatt and tackle JacQawn McRoy. Threatt is another FCS star who will need to adjust to the ACC, while McRoy is a six-foot-eight physical beast from Arkansas who did not see playing time. For now, it’s impossible to say whether the line will be improved, but the bar is low.

Defensively, Carolina struggled despite Belichick’s defensive success at the NFL level. The biggest reason for optimism however is the defensive line which improved throughout the season last year. If the Tar Heels are going to take a step forward, the defensive line will need to be the anchor that steps up throughout the season.

Defensive tackle Leroy Jackson impressed as a redshirt freshman last season, posting 36 total tackles and proving himself as a run stopper. Jackson will need to step up as a pass rusher after failing to get a sack last year, but is a safe bet to be the Tar Heels anchor inside on early downs.

Helping in the pass rush is edge rusher Melkhart Abou Jaoude, who racked up an impressive 10.5 sacks. Earning Second Team All-ACC honors last year, Abou Jaoude will be needed in the pass rush. His presence will also be valuable in opening up opportunities for the rest of the defensive line to get to the QB, which is especially key given the unproven nature of the rest of the pass rushers.

Belichick has a long track record of success with linebackers, including Jamie Collins who coaches Carolina’s linebackers. There is virtually no returning production in the linebacker room, making it a challenge for the Tar Heels however as they’ll need players to gel quickly. The top transfers Carolina brought in include Syracuse’s Derek McDonald and Richmond’s Peyton Seelmann. McDonald is a tall, experienced run stuffer who missed most of last season due to injury, but contributed in his first few years with the Orange. Meanwhile Seelmann was a do it all standout at the FCS level with 120 tackles and 2 picks last year, but is undersized and will need to adapt to the ACC, a familiar theme for many of Carolina’s transfers.

Like linebacker, the secondary is also a major question mark. One of Carolina’s biggest recruiting wins was cornerback Kenneth Dopson III, a four star cornerback who flipped from Miami. Known for his impressive man coverage ability, expect Dopson to challenge for a starting role. The Tar Heels also reeled in four star safety Jakob Weatherspoon who could earn playing time. With multiple freshmen potentially seeing the field and other spots still up for grabs, the Carolina secondary has a wide range of outcomes. However, experience is always valuable for defensive backs and right now the Tar Heels lack that, which is a concern for me.

The bottom line for North Carolina is that the Tar Heels need results now. After investing heavily in Belichick and his entire operation, another 4-8 season won’t cut it. The schedule however is very unforgiving with five of the top seven teams in the ACC Preseason Poll on Carolina’s schedule. That doesn’t include TCU, who UNC will face in their season opener in Ireland. Given the schedule, the numerous question marks across the roster, and instability of Belichick’s operation, it would be surprising to see Carolina reach bowl eligibility even if the Tar Heels show improvement from last season.

As you might have heard, the Carolina Panthers will take part in the season opener in Canton, Ohio. Franchise Legend Luke Kuechly is set to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday, and later, his Panthers will take the field.

While the Hall of Fame Game typically doesn’t produce jaw-dropping numbers or insane highlights, there are always storylines and intriguing players to follow.

With the Panthers set to take the field later tonight, here are some of the most important things fans should keep their eyes on.

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Haynes King…and Kenny Pickett

As expected, Dave Canales announced that all of the listed starters, including Bryce Young, will not participate in the team’s first preseason game. That opens the door for backup Kenny Pickett to get some reps.

Pickett will get his reps, and we largely know what the former Super Bowl champ can do. The real highlight of the Panthers quarterbacking will be Haynes King.

King started his college career at Texas A&M before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final three seasons. King’s calling card at GT was being a true dual-threat option that could cause real issues with his legs.

Given that newly-appointed Offensive Coordinator Brad Idzik will likely want to keep the “real plays” close to the vest in the preseason, King will have the opportunity to show off his improvisational abilities in this contest.

King noted in his media availability on Tuesday that this is an opportunity to show off what he can do - not just for the Panthers - but for all 32 teams across the league.

What we’ll be looking for at SportCLT will be King’s ability to connect on passes downfield, something that fellow backup option Kenny Pickett struggles to do effectively.

Fans should also look to see any QB sneaks/short runs that the team dials up for King. With QB sneaks being something the team wants the 5’9” Bryce Young to shy away from, King could carve out an early role as a short yardage specialist if he succeeds during the HOF Game.

Ja’Seem Reed and Co.

Like Young, Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette will all sit out of this contest. Given the injury to Chris Brazzell II, there are quite a few spots open at the receiver position.

Of course, the battles for WR4 and onwards will continue throughout the preseason, but tonight’s game will be a good first look at how players like Jimmy Horn Jr. and John Metchie III can make their quarterbacks’ lives easier.

One name at the receiver position that has garnered a lot of attention during the summer is Ja’Seem Reed. The former San Diego Torero spent his rookie season on Carolina’s practice squad last year, and has had flashes throughout this year’s camp.

Fans always find smaller names to root for during camp, but Reed has made real impressions among his peers.

With the aforementioned injuries to the position, Reed has a real chance to carve out a role for himself, not too dissimilar to what Jalen Coker did two years ago. Reed also has the potential to bring something to the table that the Panthers offense lacks - downfield juice.

If Reed is able to impress with Pickett and King throwing him the ball, he will likely earn himself reps with the 1s during the other preseason matchups and joint practices.

The Panthers need all the help they can get in the pass-catching department, and Reed is the name to watch as the receiver battles start in the HOF Game.

Defensive Line and Edge Rusher Depth

Carolina’s defensive front depth has been decimated to start the year. Turk Wharton’s timeline is up in the air as he recovers from neck surgery, Bobby Brown III just started practicing this week, and sturdy depth piece LaBryan Ray has chosen to retire after being with the team the last few seasons.

Along the edge, breakout star Nic Scourton is also lost for the season.

Now that we know that rookie QB Carson Beck is slated to start for Arizona, we’re going to need to see some sacks.

The DL rotation including Lee Hunter, Cam Jackson (who is currently listed as the team’s starting nose tackle), and Aaron Hall should be able to get pressure on the young quarterback.

Cam Jackson’s emergence could be huge for the Panthers this season. The former fifth round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft played sparingly last season, but has the frame and tools to be a big impact player in the middle of the defensive line.

Jackson and Hunter should be a fun competition and a strong rotation that fits well with Derrick and Bobby Brown.

Undrafted free agent Aaron Hall also has a huge opportunity in this game. LaBryan Ray often occupied the DL5/6 spot, contributing to the rotation and on special teams. If Hall impresses, there’s a good chance he follows in Ray’s footsteps.

As far as the edge rushers go, Cam Gill is a name that could surprise fans during the preseason.

Gill has spent time in Carolina before, but most recently was named the UFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2026 season. This past season, Gill amassed a league-leading 10 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery across 10 regular season contests.

A newly-reinvigorated Cam Gill, coming off of a historic year in the United Football League, could be a name to keep an eye on in the wake of Nic Scourton’s absence.

Defensive Back Rotation

Other than receiver, the position that is likely most-contested during the preseason will be the defensive back rotation. We all know Horn, Jackson, Moehrig, and (likely) Nick Scott will be the team’s four main starters in the defensive backfield.

But who will man the slot/nickel corner spot?

Nickel corner was a position that fluctuated for the Panthers last season. Chau Smith-Wade began the year as the starter, but ceded the position to rookie undrafted free agent Corey Thornton midway through the season.

Notably, Carolina also drafted former Texas A&M DB Will Lee III in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, while also adding UDFA DeVonta Smith (no, not that one) from Notre Dame.

Lee gives the team the ability to man up more on the boundary, allowing someone like Jaycee Horn to play more in the slot. Horn often thrived in the slot early in his career under the play-calling of Phil Snow.

There’s a good chance that we see a lot of Lee, Thornton, Smith-Wade, and Smith during tonight’s contest. It’s less likely that they’ll face some of Arizona’s big names, like Trey McBride or Marvin Harrison Jr, but the DBs will all get their shot to make some plays.

With Beck throwing the ball, there’s a good chance an interception will be up for grabs.

While it might be cool to the fans if the Panthers get the win, the final score ultimately doesn’t matter. This game is to kick off the season, and highlight two phenomenal players enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

What does matter in this contest are the plays that each player makes. This is the first of many opportunities against other competition for players along the fringe of the roster to show that they belong.

Now that the six-month drought without football games is nearing it’s end, SportCLT will be putting forth a few newsletters every week:

• The first will be reviewing the previous game, breaking down the result and key moments along the way, courtesy of NFL Pro.

• Next will be a draft-centric piece, highlighting some of the breakout players at the college level that fans should keep an eye on heading into the 2027 NFL Draft.

• Lastly, SportCLT will be previewing each contest prior to kickoff, detailing important matchups and keys for the Panthers to nail in order to pull off a win.

I (Jacob) want to personally thank readers for subscribing to SportCLT, and look forward to providing more Carolina Panthers contest for the fastest-growing Charlotte sports coverage in the game.

Enjoy the Hall of Fame Game, and Keep Pounding.

The Hornets had quite the offseason, trading their star player away, adding two first-round rookies, and making a plethora of more moves.

I wanted to go back and sequentially grade everything that went down.

While it’s impossible to grade the ‘results’ of this offseason, it is possible to grade the process of Hornets GM Jeff Peterson and how each of these moves could work towards building their stated goal of a sustained winner.

Let’s dive in.

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This is a new series I’ll be writing (assuming you guys like the content within it): The Week of Carolina Sports. Essentially, it will be a spot where I can get some detailed thoughts off about a variety of topics that I don’t have the time to produce whole in-depth articles for.

If you like the format, let me know in the comments or by reaching out. I’m going to provide some thoughts on the Hornets, Panthers, and potentially Charlotte FC (with college coming in the VERY near future, stay tuned for an announcement there).

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It was an eventful weekend throughout the NBA, with LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers over the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and more.

Despite being the home of Bojangles, one of James’ favorite restaurants, Charlotte was unable to secure his services.

More seriously, I wanted to dive into how the James/76ers pairing affects the Hornets, along with breaking down a rumor from this past weekend regarding Warriors owner Joe Lacob wanting to build the Warriors around the post-Steph Curry era, and whether Charlotte could get in on a potential Curry sweepstakes.

All of that, and more, below.

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This article was last updated following GM Dan Morgan’s pre-camp presser on Wednesday, 7.22 ~ 12:15pm EST

Usually, the time between post-draft minicamps and training camp is a boring time for NFL fans. Luckily this summer, the 2026 World Cup was able to hold it down and bring the excitement.

After Spain defeated Argentina on Sunday in MetLife Stadium, however, it’s time to turn the attention back to the American variant of football.

For Carolina, training camp is here. By the time you’re reading this, the Panthers will have already reported for camp.

Rookies need to be in town on July 21st, and veterans will show up the next day. Practice is slated to start later in the week.

With real NFL action just a few days away, let’s take a look at everything fans need to know about Carolina’s 2026 Training Camp.

Own a Charlotte-area business and interested in sponsoring SportCLT content (posts, podcasts, or interactive guides/games)? Become a partner today by filling out our form, linked here.

When Is It?

As stated above, everyone will have reported to camp by July 22nd. Practices, preseason games, and fan events will continue until the end of training camp in August. The timeline looks something like this:

• July 21 - Rookies report to camp

• July 22 - Veteran players report to camp

• July 23 - First scheduled practice

• July 31 - Fan Fest

• Aug. 6 - Hall of Fame Game in Canton, OH

• Aug. 15 - Preseason Game 1 in Buffalo

• Aug. 19 - Joint Practice with Jacksonville

• Aug. 21 - Preseason Game 2 in Jacksonville

• Aug. 26 - Joint Practice with Houston

• Aug. 28 - Preseason Game 3 vs. Houston

Over the next month or so, Carolina will be getting back into the swing of things. Between practices, joint practices with other teams, and four preseason contests, the Panthers will be busy over the next four or five weeks.

With the Panthers slow starts over the last few seasons, having as much possible exposure in training camp and the preseason is only a good thing.

Hopefully, two joint practices and four preseason contests will carry over into the regular season debut vs. Chicago.

What’s Brad Idzik Bringing?

Perhaps the person that could benefit the most from extra preseason reps is new offensive play-caller Brad Idzik.

Idzik has been in lockstep with Dave Canales for years, but now has his shot to be an NFL play-caller. Earlier this offseason, Canales announced that Idzik would be taking the reins in that department.

While Idzik has called plays in the preseason before, it’s a bit different when he’s the man in charge. The next four to five weeks will be paramount for Idzik to get his timing, cadence, and relationship with Bryce Young up to speed.

In terms of the actual plays being called, don’t expect too much of a difference compared to how Canales sequenced plays.

The only major difference I anticipate with Idzik being the play-caller, is that Dave Canales will be free to focus on the game as a whole. A more agnostic view of the game may lead to Canales being more comfortable with Idzik letting it loose and calling more home run plays.

New Associate Head Coach Darrell Bevell will also be helpful for Idzik as he navigates this new chapter. Bevell has a bevy of NFL experience as a play-caller, and has likely already given Idzik pointers regarding to play-calling process.

Camp Battles

One of the highlights of training camp are the position battles. Throughout the process, Carolina will go from 90+ players down to a roster of 53 following cut day. Camp battles are an important part of determining both starters and depth.

For the Panthers, there are quite a few position battles that need to play out. The team is good enough to have most of their starters in place, but a few key spots stand out.

Left Tackle

In free agency, the Panthers added former Packer Rasheed Walker to help fortify left tackle after Ickey Ekwonu’s injury. Since then, the team also drafted Georgia OT Monroe Freeling in the first round.

This is probably the most consequential position battle, as the winner will handle protecting Bryce Young’s blindside in a year where the team wants to go back to the playoffs.

**Not only is the left tackle spot in question, but the Panthers will likely have the loser of this battle starting at right tackle in Week 1.

On Tuesday, 7.21, Panthers fans learned that Taylor Moton will miss training camp and the start of the season with blood clots in his lung. Moton has been a steadying presence for close to a decade, so whoever steps up will have big shoes to fill.

For our overall thoughts and potential replacements for Moton in the interim, check out this article**

WR3 and Beyond

After reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan and recently-extended Jalen Coker, the receiver corps have no standout players.

Xavier Legette should have the inside track to the WR3 spot, having been on the team the last two seasons. However, fan-favorite Chris Brazzell II brings a vertical speed element that this team lacks.

Both players should see the field often this season, but expect Xavier Legette to have the early lead to start as the third receiver in base 11 personnel.

The bottom of the receiver room will be heavily contested as well. All of David Moore, Brycen Tremayne, Jimmy Horn Jr, and John Metchie III have reasons to make the squad. Preseason and joint practice reps will be important to watch.

Slot/Nickel Defensive Back

On the defensive side of the ball, Carolina has done a good job fortifying areas that needed improvement. Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd should bring the juice in the front seven, but the defensive backfield still has questions.

Nick Scott returns and should be the fellow starting safety alongside Tre’von Moehrig, but the slot corner position is still up for grabs.

Last season, former fifth round pick Chau Smith-Wade started the year in the pole position, but eventually undrafted rookie Corey Thornton took the lead before suffering a season-ending leg injury against San Francisco.

Those two, along with rookie fourth rounder Will Lee III, will compete for the third DB/corner spot. Thornton likely has the early lead, but camp battles are battles for a reason.

With Jaycee Horn suffering a foot laceration prior to camp, there will likely be even more reps to go around for the young corners on the roster.

Center

Another offensive line position that could be contested is the center spot. Both Luke Fortner and Sam Hecht are new additions, and should be able to compete to be the guy that replaces Cade Mays.

Fortner should initially have the inside track to start here, but many draft evaluators had Hecht as someone that could potentially be an early starter in the NFL.

Regardless, it will be good to have two serviceable players at a position that’s been an issue for the past few seasons.

Core Four Teamers

There’s a reason the Panthers were able to sneak into the playoffs last season despite wielding a losing record. Wins along the margins, especially on special teams, can do wonders for a team in close games.

Carolina’s front office agrees with this, and made a concerted effort to bring back multiple key special teams players. Some of those names include LB Isaiah Simmons, EDGE Thomas Incoom, P Sam Martin, CB Akayleb Evans, and LS JJ Jansen.

Bringing back key contributors on kickoff/punt returns/coverages is what a smart team does. The issue for Carolina, however, is that this roster is finally in a position to have high-level specialists at their positions on offense and defense.

It’s hard to hold so many key special teamers when the roster is capped at 53 players.

Adding players like Phillips and Lloyd pushes players down a rung on the pecking order, leading to some of the competition for players who excel on special teams.

Keep an eye on players like Tremayne and Incoom, core four special teams players that can also provide some juice on offense and defense, respectively.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

Camp battles and new play-calling may be the main events of training camp, but there are a few more topics that warrant a bit of discussion before the players pop pads.

Brady Christensen

Last week, Carolina agreed to bring back the versatile OL for another season in the Process Blue. Christensen is coming off of an Achilles injury sustained during Week 8 of last season, but has cleared his rehab stage and is ready to roll.

With the news regarding Taylor Moton’s status, Carolina needs offensive line depth now more than ever. Christensen has played at all five OL positions during his time with the Panthers, and should be ready to fill in for either guard or tackle spot when necessary.

Undrafted Rookie Free Agent Pushes

During both of Dan Morgan’s first two seasons at the helm of the Panthers, the team has ended up keeping multiple undrafted free agents on the main roster.

In 2024, WR Jalen Coker and DB Demani Richardson made the team. Coker has since gotten his big payday.

Last season, LB Bam Martin-Scott, CB Corey Thornton, and K Ryan Fitzgerald all had key contributions for the team. Thornton and Fitzgerald even look to be starters in 2026.

If the trend follows, at least two UDFAs will make the 53-man squad. It’ll be tougher this season, considering the Panthers roster isn’t one of the worst in the league anymore, but there are a few interesting names to keep an eye on.

Duke DL Aaron Hall is probably the most likely to stick around. From all accounts, Hall impressed during the spring camp period, and with Tershawn Wharton out indefinitely with a neck injury, the team needs to add some defensive line depth.

Fellow starter Bobby Brown III will also start training camp on the NFI (non-football injury) list, creating even more reps for Hall.

The other guy that has a fighter’s chance to make the team is former Georgia Tech QB Haynes King. Dave Canales has long intimated wanting a young, developmental backup quarterback option, and King fits that mold.

King also brings size and a rushing ability that could eventually be useful in sub-packages, something that Bryce Young and new backup Kenny Pickett lack.

The retirement of QB3 Will Grier also gives King the inside track to more reps in the preseason. If King is able to impress, Carolina may feel he is worth one of their 53 main contracts.

Joint Practices/Preseason

Preseason game outcomes don’t count for anything in the grand scheme of things, but seeing better performances in the games and joint practices is something both the fans and team wants to see.

Carolina has not had stellar preseason performances over the past few seasons. However, this is the most talented Panthers team since the end of the Rivera/Newton era in the late 2010s.

Joint practices with two playoff teams from last season, along with an extra preseason game, should have this group in better shape heading into the season than they have been over the first years of the Canales/Young era.

In summary, this is one of Carolina’s more important training camps in recent history. Sure, we say this every season, but there are actual expectations now. The Panthers aren’t a bottom three roster anymore.

If the Panthers want to follow up their first postseason appearance in a decade with an equally impressive season, it starts now - in training camp.

On the eve of training camp’s veteran report day, the Panthers and their fanbase were hit with some tough news. Stalwart right tackle Taylor Moton was diagnosed with blood clots, and is slated to miss some time.

Star CB Jaycee Horn also opens camp on the NFI (non-football injury) list with a foot laceration. Horn is expected to return at some point during camp, however.

Moton’s timetable is a bit different. Blood clots are not something to scoff at, and can often require prolonged treatment.

The good news is the team reported that they found the issue in late June. Moton is reported to have responded well to treatment, and is receiving daily assessments from the team’s staff.

With Moton slated to miss training camp and at least the beginning of the regular season, the question of right tackle has appeared for the Panthers.

Carolina already was slated to have some left tackle camp battles between Rasheed Walker and first round pick Monroe Freeling. Now, they’ll have to evaluate the other side of the line as well.

Potential Starters at Right Tackle

The aforementioned camp battle between Rasheed Walker and Monroe Freeling will likely determine the Week 1 starter at left tackle, but it could also show who the starting right tackle could be.

It stands to reason that Walker, who has started across the offensive line in the NFL and Freeling, who was cross-trained at both left and right tackle in spring camp, could both see time starting on the right side of the line.

I wouldn’t put it past the team to start whoever loses the left tackle battle at right tackle - Walker and Freeling are probably the best pure tackles on the roster.

Carolina also recently brought back Brady Christensen, who has had experience playing at all five spots along the line. Christensen, who played tackle in college, could step in as the early favorite to play at right tackle if the team wants to bring Freeling along solely as a guy on the left side.

Stone Forsythe was a name the Panthers signed early in free agency this March, though fans may not want to see him suit him for many starting reps if they can help it.

After those four, the names currently on the Panthers roster don’t really track to be great options to start at right tackle.

Carolina could look into the free agent market, which currently has a handful of veterans that could sign one-year deals, similar to what Rasheed Walker did back in March.

More-experienced names like Jonah Williams, Taylor Decker, Jack Conklin, and Cam Robinson currently top the OL free agent market.

Each of those players would likely command a significant deal for a July/August free agent signing, but the Panthers may be in a position where they feel as though it’s necessary to add such player(s).

What does that mean for the rest of the OL?

As it stands, Carolina looks to be without their incumbent starters at both left (Ickey Ekonwu, patellar tendon) and right (Moton) tackles to start the year.

Assuming the outcome of the Walker/Freeling left tackle battle also produces the starting right tackle, Carolina’s OL depth takes a significant hit.

After those two, it’s really just Brady Christensen who you’d feel good about stepping in as a swing tackle, and Brady has filled in more for the interior OL depth, which is also lacking.

Dan Morgan and his staff were prudent in adding two OL in the draft and signing Walker in free agency, but the depth of the OL is already low. Even if the Panthers don’t want to give out top dollar to some of the earlier names, it’s probably worth investing in more overall OL depth before the season starts.

With both Ickey Ekwonu and now Taylor Moton expected to be absent to start the year, Carolina’s OL depth is off to an almost catastrophic start - and we’re still two weeks away from even the start of the preseason.

We’re wishing Taylor Moton a healthy and hasty recovery, but as it pertains to the current Panthers roster, the team may have some reinforcements they need to find before a lengthy training camp and preseason.

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The NBA offseason is coming to a close (minus the LeBron decision), and I wanted to give some thoughts on what I think the Hornets’ rotation this season will look like, who’s the odd man looking out from Charlotte’s roster crunch, and more.

It doesn’t feel as though the Hornets’ offseason is complete. It still seems as though there’s one more missing piece of the puzzle.

Let’s sort through it all.

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The NBA’s annual Las Vegas Summer League concludes this weekend after a week’s worth of games, and the Hornets officially wrapped up their slate of games after their final contest against the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

I dove into each notable player that the Charlotte Hornets had at Summer League, and graded their performance over the five-game sample.

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Hannes Steinbach had one of the more memorable performances in recent Hornets Summer League history, finishing Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks with 27 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists.

He was excellent offensively, finishing plays, showing unique touch around the rim, and, of course, rebounding the ball at an elite level.

I haven’t really seen a satisfying deep dive on Steinbach’s game and what he could become at the NBA level, so I wrote many of my thoughts down here.

The Charlotte Hornets have had quite an eventful offseason. They traded their star point guard, drafted two players in the top-20, and have a fairly significant roster difference as compared to just a few months ago.

While the dust has mostly settled around the NBA (with the exception of LeBron James’ pending free agency decision), there are still a few questions remaining for this offseason.

I took a look at Charlotte’s roster crunch, Liam McNeeley and his pathway to minutes, the backup point guard slot, and Brandon Miller’s looming extension.

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Today I launched my latest interactive game - this one being about Hornets Trivia!

It is intentionally difficult, featuring a Hornets-based connections game, a timeline game, and Sporcle style naming trivia.

I’ve got some incentive for you to try it, as well.

If you get every question correct, there’s an exclusive offer link the game will provide for a free month of a SportCLT paid subscription!

How To Play

Just click here to access Hornets Trivia