Coach Dave Canales confirms Panthers starters, including Bryce Young, will play in the 2025 preseason, a major shift to avoid another slow season start.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
In a significant departure from last season's strategy, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales confirmed his starters, including quarterback Bryce Young, will play in the first two preseason games. The announcement, which came just ahead of the team's annual Fan Fest, signals a clear intent to hit the ground running and avoid the slow start that plagued the team in 2024.
This city has a lot of hope. They want a winner, and you can feel it.
The energy was palpable at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday as thousands of fans filled the seats for the annual Fan Fest. Supporters got an up-close look at the 2025 squad during an open practice, and the buzz was undeniable. New guard Robert Hunt summed it up perfectly, noting the hopeful energy from the city and its desire for a winning team. After a season that saw the Panthers finish with the league's worst defense, that hope feels like a critical first step.
The biggest news driving that optimism is Coach Canales' decision to get his first-team offense valuable live reps before the games count. Citing lessons learned from last year's struggles, Canales is throwing his young roster straight into the fire, a stark contrast to the previous year's approach of resting starters. For Bryce Young, who finished last season with 2,403 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, this early action is a crucial opportunity to build chemistry and rhythm with his revamped offensive unit.
The intensity is evident on the practice field. While Bryce Young leads the quarterback room, fierce competition is unfolding at wide receiver and linebacker. The defense, looking to rebound from a year where they allowed a league-high 534 points, is already showing its teeth. In a standout moment from camp, rookie OLB Princely Umanmielen managed to strip-sack Young, a play that signals no one is off-limits and that the defense is being built with a new, physical edge.
The theme of competition extends to special teams, an area in desperate need of a spark. The Panthers have scored just one return touchdown since 2018, a statistic the team is keen to change. The primary kickoff and punt return jobs are up for grabs, with rookies Jimmy Horn Jr. and Trevor Etienne making strong cases. Meanwhile, a battle is brewing for the kicker spot between Matthew Wright and Ryan Fitzgerald, as the team looks for reliability across the board.
This new-look Panthers team is moving on from a long-time defensive cornerstone, having released linebacker Shaq Thompson in February. In his place, the front office has brought in a host of new talent to fortify the defense, including DT Tershawn Wharton, DE Patrick Jones II, and safety Tre'von Moehrig. They join a unit that will be counting on last year's sack leader, Jadeveon Clowney (5.5 sacks), to anchor a revitalized pass rush.
All eyes now turn to Friday, August 8, when the Panthers host the Cleveland Browns. It won't just be another preseason game; it will be the first true test of Dave Canales' new philosophy and a chance for this revamped roster to prove that the hope felt at Fan Fest is more than just wishful thinking.
