JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WBTV) - One of the Carolina Panthers’ prized rookies will face a familiar opponent in his first NFL game.
Sunday’s season-opener between the Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars will be a family affair for first-year running back Trevor Etienne, whose older brother Travis plays for the Jaguars.
“Man, it doesn’t get any better than that,” Trevor told reporters when asked about playing his brother in his first NFL game. “Wishing him the best but, you know, the Panthers need to come out with a victory.”
A fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, the former Georgia Bulldog has already carved out a role for himself with the Panthers and will be their primary punt and kick returner to start the season. He could also find himself in the team’s running back mix with veterans Chuba Hubbard and Asheville-native Rico Dowdle.
Leading up to Sunday, Trevor -- who wears No. 23 -- said he and Travis have talked some trash while also uplifting each other.
“I’d say there’s more words of encouragement but we do go back and forth,” he said Wednesday. “We just talk trash to each other [but] we still root for each other at the end of the day.”
Etienne brothers Travis (left) and Trevor (right) will play each other in the season-opener on...
Etienne brothers Travis (left) and Trevor (right) will play each other in the season-opener on Sunday, Sept. 7.(AP photos)
While the 2025 season is the first for 21-year-old Trevor, 26-year-old Travis is entering his fifth year with the Jaguars, who drafted him in the first round out of Clemson in 2021.
Because of their age difference, Trevor said he has never played with or against his older brother but both always had dreams of playing in the NFL.
“I’d be lying if I said we sat down and was like ... ‘This is how it’s going to happen,’ but man, that was always the goal,” he said. “Thanks to God, we were able to see it through.”
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Trevor said their family was working to get half-Panthers, half-Jaguars jerseys and said he expected “a lot” of people to show up to Sunday’s game in Jacksonville.
“I say it’s a full-circle moment for everyone,” the Panthers rookie said. “Me and my brother, we’re the ones that’s, you know, competing but it took everyone. And I just, you know, tip my hat and am thankful to have my family as my circle and to help us get here.”
Sunday’s “Etienne Bowl” is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff on FOX.
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