During the preseason, several teams around the NFL ease their starters into the fold. 

That won't be the case for the Carolina Panthers.

Panthers head coach Frank Reich recently explained that the team heading into its matchup with the New York Jets on Saturday is playing its starters because it isn't at the same place most teams around the league are at this point in the preseason. He didn't mean it negatively. Reich was speaking about the recent changes the Panthers made on the field and with the coaching staff. 

“We just feel like we’re at a different stage,“ than other teams, Reich said to the Associated Press. ”A lot of teams won’t play their starters in the preseason. We’ve talked as a team from the very beginning and said, ‘Hey, we’re gonna play in the preseason.’ We’ve got to get ready to go.”

The Panthers' opponent plans to rest its new-look star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile, the No. 1 overall pick is a guarantee to play Saturday. 

Reich has no concern about how Young will handle the pressure of his first preseason game. The head coach recently said that the quarterback checked nearly every box a player can to this point in their career. 

“Taking over the huddle, his leadership in the locker room and on the field, his command of the offense… they are all things that have showed up again and again,” Reich said.

Panthers veteran quarterback Andy Dalton echoed a similar sentiment. 

"Bryce has had a really good camp," Dalton said. "I think he feels really comfortable with everything that we are doing and this (offense) is really tailored to his skill set.”

The Panthers plan to play their starters out of necessity. They may be at a different place than most teams, but they are embracing that position. And in a wide-open NFC South, it is exactly where the team needs to be. 

How the national media did the Panthers dirty during last week of training camp

The national media did the Carolina Panthers dirty during last week of NFL training camp

Panthers veteran QB knows Bryce Young is the guy for the job

Andy Dalton sang Bryce Young’s praises.

NFL first-ballot Hall of Famer shares key advice with Panthers QB Bryce Young

Quarterback Bryce Young’s first Carolina Panthers’ first preseason game against the New York Jets, the team is competing in a series of joint practices.

Feature image via Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.