ClutchPoints
The Carolina Panthers are supposed to be in the middle of their turnaround. With Dave Canales entering his second year as head coach, Bryce Young entering his third year as quarterback, and a roster supposedly deeper than in years past, the expectation was simple: progress. Yet two weeks into the preseason, that word feels foreign. The Panthers aren’t looking like a team turning the corner. They look like a team stuck in neutral. And worse, they look like they know it.
Yes, it’s only preseason. It’s a limited sample size. It won’t count. Let’s get that out of the way after the Panthers’ dispiriting 20-3 exhibition loss at Houston on Saturday. Of course, let’s also admit that it’s time to worry about these 2025 Panthers. Canales is usually the embodiment of optimism. He is the type who, as the saying goes, will grab a shovel when faced with a pile of manure because he’s convinced a pony must be hiding somewhere. Yet even Canales sounded rattled this time. After the game, he admitted the effort wasn’t up to standard and asked aloud the kind of question no fan wants to hear: “Are we gonna be almost good?”
Just a week ago, the picture looked brighter. In their 30-10 loss to Cleveland in Week 1, Carolina’s starters actually impressed. Bryce Young led a touchdown drive and the defense delivered an early stop before the reserves fell apart. That was easier to stomach. Against Houston, though, the malaise infected the entire team from start to finish. The Panthers never threatened. They stumbled their way to 0-2 in the preseason, and have now been outscored 50-13 through two games.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Carolina Panthers’ biggest reason to panic after start of 2025 NFL Preseason.
Sue, the preseason can be an exhausting time filled with overreactions. However, Carolina’s starters didn’t do much to inspire confidence moving forward. The donkey of the day was the first-team offense. They mustered only three net yards on two possessions. Yes, you read that right. Three yards.
Young’s very first play from scrimmage should have been a disaster. He threw an interception that was nullified by penalty. A drive later, he threw a perfect third-and-8 strike to rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, only to watch the ball clank off Sanders’ hands. That’s how seasons unravel, and it happened in August.
The second series ended in a sack courtesy of Texans defensive end Mario Edwards. With that, Young and the starters were shelved. Two drives, nothing to show for it, and a feeling that the Panthers’ so-called strength, which was supposed to be the maturation of their offense, still has years to go.
The defense wasn’t much better. Yes, they were not nearly as disappointing as the offense. That said, the unit looked far too much like its dreadful 2024 self. They surrendered an 11-play, 60-yard touchdown drive in the opening quarter....
