JACKSONVILLE – Team reporter Kainani Stevens each week during the 2025 regular season will speak with a media member covering the Jaguars' opponent.
Up this week:
WCNC Sports Director Nick Carboni weighs on the Carolina Panthers as they enter Sunday’s 2025 regular-season opener against the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium.
Question: It's the first game of the season. We don't really know what we're going see from anybody. The Panthers went through a rebuild a few years ago, while the Jaguars are doing that right now in Jacksonville. What's the current status in Charlotte and the team's mentality going into Week 1?
Answer: This camp was all about comfortability that builds confidence. It is Year 2 for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young under Head Coach Dave Canales. Even though this is Bryce's third season in the NFL, it's the first time he has been able to carry over the same offensive coordinator, play caller, from year to year in that span. It was a tumultuous first couple of years for him, especially that rookie season. He's kind of coming out of that, and I think Bryce has gained more confidence by being comfortable with what's happening, and I think everybody else has as well. I think this camp was all about being comfortable with what happened last year, continuing into this year, and building on that.
Q: We did see some changes for the Panthers on offense. Some trades and injuries affecting the wide receiver corps. How comfortable is Bryce Young with his wide receiver corps heading into this week?*
A: We're going to find out quickly. This is now the youngest receiver core in the NFL after they traded 35-year-old Adam Thielen last week. It was a surprise to a lot of us that it had happened so quickly. They were relying on Jalen Coker, a second-year undrafted receiver, to fill that slot role. The day after Carolina traded Thielen, Coker got injured. He's out at least four weeks. They brought back Hunter Renfrow, a former Pro Bowler who sat out last year with ulcerative colitis – a really serious illness. He wasn't sure he'd come back and play football, but said he only wanted to do it if it could be with the Panthers. He's from the Carolinas. He got cut Tuesday. Thielen was traded Wednesday. Coker was injured Thursday. Renfrow was back Saturday, and he will start this Sunday in the slot for Carolina. The Panthers are very confident in their young receivers. As you mentioned, draft one in the first round this year, Tetairoa McMillan. Drafted one in the first-round last year in Xavier Legette. They really like their second-year tight end out of Texas, JT Sanders, in terms of catching the football. So, I'm sure they wouldn't have liked the last week to go the way it did, but I still think they are confident in those guys. We'll see when Bryce gets comfortable with them.
Q: The Jaguars have a partially new offensive line, as well as new schemes on both sides of the football. A lot of focus has been on whether the line will be able to protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence. How do the Panthers feel as far as edge rushing and the defensive line they are bringing into town?*
A: Getting after the quarterback has been a problem for the Panthers dating back to last season. Their leading sack getter from last year – and there weren't any eye-popping stats - was Jadeveon Clowney. They let him walk. They drafted two all-SEC edge rushers in the second and third rounds. So their talent level and their ability to get after the quarterback in the NFL remains to be seen. They obviously like the fact that they came out of the SEC, Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen. I don't think they have any elite pass rushers at the moment unless one of these two rookies is able to carry that load this season. That's probably their weak weakest point in that defense. Interior on the line, they are a little stronger. Derek Brown is a Pro Bowler who had a record-setting over 100 tackles two years ago, but was injured most of last year. He is back. They picked up Tershawn Wharton, who played alongside Chris Jones in Kansas City, and they brought in Bobby Brown from the Los Angeles Rams. Their big focus is going to be to try and stop the run down in Jacksonville. Getting after the quarterback would be a bonus for this team at this point.
Q: Who are some players you have your eyes on for the Panthers that will make or break it for them on Sunday?
A: Jaycee Horn, the Pro Bowl cornerback who had a full healthy season for the first time last year. He got a big contract in the offseason. How will he hold up against some of Jacksonville's receivers? Then really the Panthers' receivers. We talked about it before. They took a big swing on McMillan at No. 8 overall, when they needed to plug defensive holes in the first round. By many accounts, they went with offense and a guy they think can help Bryce Young here for a long time. They've had their moments in camp where the chemistry is there. They've had other moments where they need to work on some of that timing. How much of it will be fully formed by Week 1 remains to be seen. First-round receiver from the prior season, Legette, had a nice rookie season. It wasn't bad by any means, but he also had eight drops. So, is he able to make tough contested catches against Jacksonville and hold on to the football in those big moments? Bryce Young starting this season how he finished the last three games last year. He had 10 total touchdowns, zero turnovers. That is going to be what makes or breaks this Carolina Panthers football team this year.
