For some, the preseason means very little. For others, it means everything.
So, while the Carolina Panthers’ 30-10 loss against the Cleveland Browns won’t be cemented as a turning point in either team’s 2025 campaigns, Friday’s exhibition opener at Bank of America Stadium did provide notable opportunities for several NFL hopefuls on the roster bubble this summer.
With dozens of players competing for roster and practice-squad spots, the preseason can serve as a sink-or-swim exercise in NFL attrition. While fans were surely thrilled to get a peek at the Panthers’ starting offense and new-look defense for a few snaps or drives, the overarching outlook of the final three quarters was about development and survival in the NFL.
Here are the Panthers players who helped and hurt their stock in Uptown:
Stock up
WR Jalen Coker
The second-year wideout made a heads-up play on a scramble drill that led to a 5-yard touchdown completion in the first quarter.
Quarterback Bryce Young was flushed backward and out of the pocket on third-and-goal, and Coker got open behind his coverage assignment in the end zone. After Coker noticed Young was on the run, the receiver baited his assigned defender, safety Damontae Kazee, to the edge of the end zone before moving inward to get space in pay dirt. Young flung an accurate pass to Coker, who snagged the ball and celebrated the first score of the preseason with his teammates.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, left, reaches out to congratulate wide receiver Jalen Coker, right, following Coker's touchdown pass reception during action against the Cleveland Browns on Friday at Bank of America Stadium. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
While Coker hasn’t received the buzz of Hunter Renfrow or Tetairoa McMillan this summer, he’s put together a solid camp. One could argue he’s more of a gamer than a practice performer. In the second quarter, he had a one-handed 33-yard catch negated by a pair of offsetting penalties. The play was highlight-reel material, as backup QB Andy Dalton launched a beautiful rainbow toss down the right seam for the wideout, and Coker went up and hauled in the catch with his right hand.
Coker still finished with two catches for 17 yards and a touchdown.
CB Corey Thornton
Thornton is playing his way onto this roster. He received first-team reps in place of Jaycee Horn on Friday, and he made the most of those snaps. He was physical against the run, and for the most part, he was dependable in coverage. While Browns QB Shedeur Sanders made a phenomenal touchdown throw over Thornton on a scoring completion to wideout Kaden Davis in the first quarter, the undrafted rookie was largely competitive throughout the evening.
Carolina Panthers cornerback Corey Thornton, right, upends Cleveland Browns wide receiver Kaden Davis, left, during Friday’s game at Bank of America Stadium. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
He made an excellent tackle for loss on a reverse play by Davis in the backfield. The cornerback basically slammed the wideout to the turf like he was in the main event of a WWE show. He later had a near interception on a throw over the middle. While he couldn’t haul in the ball, he made a great jump on the ball to break up a potential first-down gain.
Thornton finished with three tackles (one for loss) and a pass breakup on the night.
S Demani Richardson
The second-year safety made the most of his second-half reps. During the first drive of the third quarter, Richardson was sent on a blitz from deep in the secondary and got home on Sanders. Richardson closed in untouched as he timed up the blitz perfectly for the takedown.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) is tackled after the completion by Carolina Panthers safety Demani Richardson (36) during Friday’s first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Richardson is competing for a starting job, and he made a statement by showing that element of his game. The highlight play killed the drive for the Browns and put the spotlight on Richardson, who is having a noteworthy summer.
Richardson finished with five tackles and a sack.
TE James Mitchell
The former Detroit Lions draft pick was used early and often against Cleveland. He was targeted four times and caught three passes for 25 yards on the night. He outpaced fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans and showed some yards-after-catch ability in traffic. With Tommy Tremble sidelined with a back injury, Mitchell could play himself onto the roster as a depth piece. He was also involved on special teams on Friday.
Mitchell is a dark horse of training camp, but he has the experience and draft pedigree to be intriguing to the Panthers’ staff. He has the makings of this year’s Jordan Matthews.
Stock down
RB/PR Raheem Blackshear
The fourth-year running back had a tough moment on the first punt return of the game. He fielded the ball around the 10-yard line, and his momentum pushed him backward to around the 7-yard line. Blackshear fell to the ground before picking up 2 yards, and the ball was placed on the Carolina 9-yard line for the Panthers’ first offensive possession.
Blackshear is competing to stick around as a returner and depth running back. And while fourth-round pick Trevor Etienne muffed a return opportunity later in the first half, the rookie has a projected role on offensive. Unlike Blackshear, Etienne is probably going to receive the benefit of the doubt as a rookie draft pick.
Blackshear’s margin for error with three guys clearly ahead of him is minimal. Sixth-round pick, wideout Jimmy Horn Jr., also showed he’s capable of fielding punts in the second quarter, putting added pressure on Blackshear.
G Ja’Tyre Carter
With Damien Lewis and Chandler Zavala sitting out of the preseason opener, Carter got the call to line up at left guard with the first-team offense. Carter had a rough moment on the opening drive, giving up a sack on third down against the Browns.
Cleveland backup defensive tackle Sam Kamara overpowered Carter into the backfield, which forced Young out of the pocket into defensive end Alex Wright. The sack stalled the first drive, and even though the Panthers were playing with their backs against the end zone, it still didn’t look great to see the unit allow immediate press up the middle, especially with Carter as the sole fill-in first-teamer.
OT Michael Tarquin
Undrafted rookies don’t have much wiggle room with mistakes, especially with an offensive line depth chart as deep as the Panthers’ group.
Tarquin, playing left tackle with the third-string offensive line, gave up a sack in the fourth quarter to Charlotte native Julian Okwara. The takedown cost the Panthers 9 yards on third-and-7.
Tarquin is probably competing for a practice squad spot with several veterans in front of him.