For a second consecutive Week 1, Carolina looked underprepared for and outcoached by a seemingly underwhelming opponent on the road. Naturally, fans are worried that they might be getting more of the same from the franchise following the 26-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Observer is bringing back the Panthers mailbag to answer some burning questions from the fan base.
Trevor on X asks: What is the most rational take on what happened on Sunday without panic or being an apologist?
Week 1, historically, is an atypical sample size. Some teams look fantastic before melting down within a few weeks (2024 New Orleans Saints) and others can get off to a rough start before blossoming within the first two months (2024 Washington Commanders).
The issue for the Panthers is that Sunday’s loss looked like more of the same from the past two years. This team was outcoached and outperformed against a team that is expected to be middling at best.
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales watches the offense run a play during action against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars defeated the Panthers 26-10. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
The concern here is that the offense looked like it regressed in operation. The play-calling was trite, the pre-snap energy was underwhelming, and the offensive line — without Ikem Ekwonu — took a step back. It also didn’t help that quarterback Bryce Young produced three turnovers (could have been four) that led to 10 points in a 16-point loss. The hour-and-16-minute weather delay probably didn’t help matters, but the Jaguars sat in their locker room as long as the Panthers did.
Defensively, it’s like a broken record, no matter who is out there. The talent level has risen, and, for perspective, they did hold the Jaguars to 26 points while combating three turnovers from the offense. But they gave up 200 rushing yards for a seventh consecutive game, and the pass rush was basically non-existent.
If this was the first year of the Dave Canales era, you could probably excuse a loss like this one to inexperience. However, after the goodwill the team earned in the second half of last season, Week 1 was a kick in the groin to expectations.
That said, sometimes embarrassment leads to innovation within a system. Canales’ crew proved to be somewhat resilient down the stretch of last year after things looked mighty bleak. Maybe, this loss can lead to changes that are necessary to compete.
Jen on Bluesky asks: I want to know why our head coach said he is “pushing for the younger guys” to start on defense? Last time I checked, he is the head coach and is able to make those decisions. What am I missing?
Jen is referencing a quote by Canales in response to a question by The Observer during Monday’s press conference.
The question was in reference to the team’s routine message about the coaching staff being developmentally minded. Despite those claims, second-round pick Nic Scourton played 18 defensive snaps, third-round pick Princely Umanmielen played eight defensive snaps and fourth-round pick Lathan Ransom played nine defensive snaps in Week 1.
Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom, right, waits for the snap during action against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars defeated the Panthers 26-10. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
“Well, I’m pushing that,” Canales said about young players playing early. “I’d love for all of our young guys to play. I really believe that it’s so valuable for those guys to be out there. Are they going to be perfect? No. Will every rep that they take be valuable and beneficial for their future? Yes. I would love for those guys to get opportunities out there so that we can see what we have, and then also just knowing it’s a long season and a lot of people are going to play at different times. It’ll help us going forward.”
When Canales was asked if he had conversations with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero about playing the rookies more, the head coach said the conversations have been more general.
Canales retained Evero in 2024 with the thought that the defensive coordinator would essentially be the head coach of the defense. Canales likely doesn’t want to cause an issue, especially this early in the season, by mandating how the defensive play-caller handles his various rotations and depth chart.
In fairness to Evero, prior to this season, the defense was pretty limited on talent and depth. The team brought in Scourton, Umanmielen, Ransom, Patrick Jones, Turk Wharton, Bobby Brown and Tre’von Moehrig this offseason to greatly upgrade the group.
As this beat writer has previously pointed out, Evero’s history has been partial to playing veterans early on in a season. That trend has been constant throughout his four years as an NFL defensive coordinator. However, specifically in Denver during his lone season there, the Broncos had notable talent in front of the young players in his stable.
Carolina Panthers safety Nick Scott, center and his teammates line up against the Jacksonville Jaguars defense during action on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars defeated the Panthers 26-10. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
The Panthers were always going to favor Jones and DJ Wonnum in a pass-rushing rotation. But it was a tad surprising to see Scourton and Umanmielen be so limited in their opportunities. Jones and Wonnum are fine players, but they shouldn’t be playing 40 to 50 snaps a game.
The point of a rotation is to keep players fresh and productive. With how the rotation was used in Week 1, neither goal was accomplished.
Fans are going to point to safety Nick Scott playing all of the defensive snaps on Sunday as a massive issue. He wasn’t an abject disaster against the Jaguars, but he didn’t offer anything dynamic either. The logic of starting a 30-year-old journeyman with limited upside over Ransom and second-year defensive back Demani Richardson is antithetical the “developmentally minded” culture Canales preaches.
At some point (and hopefully soon), Canales is going to have to lay down the law. This defense is better from depth and talent perspectives, outside of inside linebacker, and they need to explore the long-term upside of the rookies they just added.
Will on X asks: What’s a realistic runway for this coaching staff seeing how unprepared the team was, and just how seemingly poor the play-calling was? In a similar light, is this a make-or-break year for Bryce?
Canales has to show, at least, gradual growth this year. Week 1 was a massive hit to that mission, as it looked like the second half of last season never existed.
Canales was brought here to bring a creative offense to town. So far, the unit has been middling at best. While the head coach has been a breath of fresh air from a culture perspective, that aspect will only go so far if the team continues to lose week in and week out.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, left, and guard Robert Hunt, right, embrace following the team’s 26-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
If the Panthers take a step back from last year’s 5-12 run, it’s going to be hard for owner David Tepper to retain his patience, and really, who could blame him? Canales’ first year came with little-to-no expectations, and the team improved three games from rock bottom (2-15 in 2023).
If the Panthers were to regress, how could that be viewed as promising or successful? There still isn’t a ton of pressure on Canales to win at a contender-level clip but not reaching at least a two-game improvement would be a massive disappointment.
As far as Young goes, the Week 1 performance was discouraging. The Panthers will need to decide on his fifth-year option following this season, and if he continues to struggle, that option should be declined.
Young has shown true flashes of brilliance. While he has won just six games as an NFL starter, there is clearly talent and potential worth exploring. But if he can’t be consistent with his playmaking prowess, the Panthers should move on.
And really, if Young fails, Canales fails, too.
Jeremy on X asks: Haven’t seen enough people talk about Canales’ decision to punt on 4th and 8 from their 39 in the first half. What happened immediately after that? The big 71-yard run. We have resources invested in offense and a young offensive coach, why so conservative and scared?
Given his lack of a true public endorsement for rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, I wasn’t particularly surprised that Canales declined to go for a 56-yard field goal in the specialist’s NFL debut.
But, yeah, I think the lack of edge from Canales on offense was tough. Fourth-and-8 isn’t really a great spot to risk a turnover on downs, but with kickoff touchbacks placing teams at the 35-yard line, a turnover at the 39-yard line isn’t particularly damning by comparison.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell, center, stops Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, left, from catching a pass from quarterback Bryce Young in the end zone during action on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars defeated the Panthers 26-10. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Still, the offense wasn’t flowing, and the unit had just given an extra possession to the Jaguars with an interception that led to a touchdown. Canales was likely playing it conservative because the Panthers were down just a touchdown in the second quarter and they could pin Jacksonville deep in their own territory. When a team pins an opponent to their own 9-yard line, the odds are typically in their favor. The defense let that decision-making process down.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, right, is sacked by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dawuane Smoot, center, during action on Sunday, September 7, 2025 at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars defeated the Panthers 26-10. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
I don’t necessarily disagree with Canales’ decision to punt over calling a play on offense. However, I would have attempted the field goal after GM Dan Morgan publicly endorsed the kicker’s big leg following the cut deadline.
This team needs to take chances and be a little gritty this season. They can’t be foolish, but they need to take some calculated risks given the relatively tame expectations for this season.
Austin on X asks: Are there any free agents remaining that will address the needs at LB and safety since the DC doesn’t seem to want to play the rookies?
The Panthers should look to upgrade those positions if they can. If Evero is averse to playing the young guys at safety, Morgan needs to do something about it. They can’t keep trotting out Scott to similar results.
While Justin Simmons is a popular name because you’ve heard of him, he was pretty rough last year with the Atlanta Falcons. I’m not sure adding another former Evero pupil is the solution either, especially with the results he’s gotten out of the other ones.
Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons (31) on the field during Monday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine USA TODAY NETWORK
Jabrill Peppers, recently cut by the New England Patriots, is reportedly headed to Pittsburgh, so he’s not an option either. Marcus Williams, who visited the Panthers in March, went the entire offseason without much interest. He probably would need a couple of weeks to prepare if he were to be signed anyway.
It just doesn’t seem like a true solution is there. And frankly, the front office deserves criticism for that. If they knew Evero wasn’t going to start one of the youngsters, they shouldn’t have sat on their hands.
I was pretty surprised by how limited Ransom was used on Sunday. Richardson, while still a work in progress, wasn’t used at all.
The Panthers opened up $7.7 million in cap space by signing right tackle Taylor Moton to a contract extension last month. According to Over the Cap, Moton’s cap number dropped from $31.3 million to $23.6 million this year. They also saved another $7 million by trading away wideout Adam Thielen.
There is a reserve of cap space to spend on a starter-level defender if they deem it necessary. However, they also want to make sure they have plenty of rollover cap space for next year as well. Right now, the linebackers and safeties available in free agency are replacement level. There’s a reason why teams aren’t leaping to add them.
Maybe Morgan should seek out a trade. He’s not one to make a move just to make a move, but the Panthers can’t afford to unravel in the secondary (again).
Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan speaks to media during veteran report day for training camp on July 22, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
The Panthers should probably promote practice-squad linebacker Krys Barnes in the coming weeks as insurance for Trevin Wallace, who was a major liability in Week 1 after a really strong summer.
Of the available free agents at linebacker, former Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots defender Sione Takitaki might make sense. David Long has also played for a bunch of teams and was in Los Angeles when Evero was with the Rams, though, as stated before, his former proteges haven’t necessarily led to consistently strong results in Carolina.