Carolina Panthers Preseason Takeaways: Jaelan Phillips dominates but Carolina’s starting offense struggles in loss to Bills
The Carolina Panthers’ second preseason game fell short of expectations with the majority of the starters in action, but a few players did shine and give the team some confidence after this loss.
The Carolina Panthers dropped their second game of the preseason to the Buffalo Bills, and unlike the opener, not much went right for head coach Dave Canales’ team.
The loss still produced several significant takeaways from both sides of the ball, headlined by a dominant debut from Panthers edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and a concerning three-and-out stretch from the starting offense led by quarterback Bryce Young. Let’s dive into it.
Top takeaways from the Carolina Panthers win over the
Jaelan Phillips looks like the pass rusher Carolina paid for
Phillips looked like an absolute beast along the Panthers’ defensive front, exactly what the organization imagined when it signed him to a deal worth more than $100 million in free agency. On the first drive against Josh Allen and Buffalo’s starting offense, Phillips recorded back-to-back pressures, including a sack. His second pressure came on third down when he ran Allen down on the move and forced an incompletion.
The impact Phillips had on the players around him stood out too. Defensive end Princely Umanmielen, who had a rough showing in the Hall of Fame game, got in on that sack alongside Phillips. Even Cam Gill, the player Carolina signed after Nic Scourton went down, recorded a sack of his own. The edge rusher group looked great for the Panthers’ starting defense, and Phillips’ presence already appears to be elevating the entire unit.
Bryce Young and the starting offense sputter with three straight 3-and-outs
The starting offense told a different story. Canales said going into the game that the starters would play 10-20 snaps, but they ended up playing just nine. Carolina went three-and-out on all three possessions with Young under center.
It’s worth noting the Panthers were without both starting guards. Robert Hunt and Damian Lewis did not play on Saturday, and the lack of depth at guard showed immediately. The offensive line struggled to create any push or consistency up front for Young and the rest of the unit.
Running back Jonathon Brooks was on the field for the first time in preseason action and his first game appearance since 2024. It was great to see him back out there. Brooks finished his brief stint with three carries for five yards and one catch for nine yards. The production was modest, but his availability alone showed a positive step for his return.
Ja’seem Reed continues making his case for a roster spot
Later in the game, wide receiver Ja’seem Reed kept building on what has been one of the best training camp rises on the roster. Reed hauled in another touchdown for the second consecutive week, and general manager Dan Morgan spoke about him during the broadcast, noting his excitement about his chances of making this team.
“He just catches everything,” general manager Dan Morgan said on the broadcast. “Out there in practice, if that ball is near him, he’s catching it. Obviously, he’s a guy that’s really helped himself out in terms of making the 53. And I think, so far, so good with him. I’m excited about his future.”
Reed looks like a lock to earn a spot in the wide receiver room at this point. The remaining question is whether Jimmy Horn Jr. or John Metchie III claim that final spot behind him to round out the group. Horn did show some good returns in this game, but Reed’s consistency continues to separate him from the pack.
Aaron Hall and Zakee Wheatley bolster defensive depth
On the defensive side, rookie undrafted defensive tackle Aaron Hall continued to make a strong push for a roster spot as well. Hall recorded half a sack and three tackles in what was a standout performance for an undrafted player still fighting to earn his spot.
Safety Zakee Wheatley had another solid game for the second week in a row, once again leading the team in tackles. Wheatley has been quietly consistent throughout the preseason stretch and continued to be used on blitzes as well in this one.
The Panthers will lean heavily on the impact starters along the defense, but Hall and Wheatley made compelling cases that they can be still valuable players. For a team still building depth across the defense, that kind of competition is exactly what Dan Morgan and the coaching staff want to see heading into the rest of the preseason.
