Carolina Panthers

Chuba Hubbard

RB

questionable

Haynes King

QB

questionable

Darren Waller

TE

Derrick Brown

DT

questionable

Thomas Incoom

LB

Damien Lewis

G

Jalen Coker

WR

Coker hauled in a nine-yard catch from Bryce Young early in the second quarter, but the play was negated by a penalty. Coker missed the first six games of the 2025 regular season due to a quad injury and had modest production upon his return, but he broke out in the Panthers' NFC wild-card loss to the Rams, when he logged nine catches (on 12 targets) for 134 yards and a touchdown. He inked a three-year, $35 million contract extension with Carolina in June and is slated to serve as the team's WR2 behind Tetairoa McMillan, with Xavier Legette, Jimmy Horn and John Metchie providing depth at the position.

Jonathon Brooks

RB

After sitting out Carolina's preseason opener last week in the Hall of Fame Game, Brooks got the start Saturday while Chuba Hubbard deals with a hamstring issue. Brooks didn't make much of an impact while playing the first three possessions, but the entire first-team offense struggled to move the ball. The first running back off the board in the 2024 draft has appeared in only three NFL games so far as injuries have ruined the start of his career, but the Panthers are confident he can still contribute. Rico Dowdle averaged 16.2 touches a game last season as Hubbard's main backfield partner, but that might be a lofty goal for Brooks' volume, assuming he's able to stay on the field in 2026.

Bryce Young

QB

The fourth-year QB got the start and played into the second quarter after sitting out the Panthers' preseason opener last week in the Hall of Fame Game, but the offense couldn't get much going as all three of Young's possessions ended in punts. The 2023 first overall pick has yet to prove he can be a franchise quarterback in the NFL, or even a reliable fantasy option, but Young did take a small step forward in 2025 by setting career highs in completion rate (63.6 percent), passing yards (3,011) and passing TDs (23) over 16 regular-season games.

Ja'Tavion Sanders

TE

Even before the Panthers brought Waller aboard, Sanders already looked to be third on the depth chart at tight end, as he played in the team's preseason opener versus the Cardinals last week while Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans were rested. A fourth-round draft pick in 2024, Sanders had still been viewed as the Panthers' top pass-catching option at the position, but he no longer holds that distinction following the addition of the 33-year-old Waller, who ended a one-year retirement last season and delivered an impressive 24-283-6 receiving line in just six games with the Dolphins. With Carolina also holding Feleipe Franks in high regard for his special-teams contributions, the team may prefer to enter the season with him as their No. 4 tight end over Sanders, who could be viewed as redundant now that Waller is in the fold.

Tommy Tremble

TE

Regarded as a strong blocker, Tremble projects to enter his sixth season in Carolina as the team's starter, but he could end up ceding more work on obvious passing downs to Waller, who ended a one-year retirement in 2025 and delivered an impressive 24-283-6 receiving line on 34 targets over just six games with the Dolphins. Waller's receiving output was on par with Tremble's over his full 17-game slate with Carolina, as the latter contributed 27 catches for 249 yards and two touchdowns on 37 targets. The modest catch and yardage totals were all career highs for Tremble, who now appears likely to take a step back statistically in 2026 if Waller emerges as Carolina's top pass-catching tight end.

Xavier Legette

WR

"Really good to see him back out there playing like himself," Canales said. "Playing fast, just knowing where to be. He's doing a phenomenal job; he's the guy that we're counting on. He looks explosive. And then what I've seen him do is just make great plays on the boundary, back of the end zone, just some of those spatial plays where he can go attack the ball, find a way to get his feet down, and he's really attacked that part of his game, and that's something that I've seen him really improve on." Legette acknowledged he wasn't very good in 2025 and took a "step back" this offseason to refocus on getting better. He worked out with Bryce Young multiple times away from the team during the spring and now has a good chance to claim the WR3 role in Carolina after rookie Chris Brazzell was lost for the season due to a knee injury early in camp.

Tetairoa McMillan

WR

In particular, McMillan put a double move on CB Mike Jackson at Wednesday's practice, creating more separation than he would have previously after beating Jackson off the line before gathering in a touchdown from QB Bryce Young. "At the line of scrimmage, [McMillan] just hasn't really had an issue this camp," Canales added. "Getting off the line, I think that he's really translating all the work he did in the offseason." McMillan again is expected to serve as the top pass catcher in the Panthers offense this season after a 2025 rookie campaign in which he posted a 70-1,014-7 line on 122 targets in 17 regular-season games.

Tershawn Wharton

DT

Wharton started training camp on the active/PUP list due to neck surgery he had in mid-May. The defensive tackle has yet to be cleared for contact but has been participating in individual drills while he waits to be medically cleared. Wharton is coming off a career-high 36 tackles (11 solo) over nine regular-season games.

Kyle Trask

QB

Trask is likely a temporary signing to hold down depth at the position throughout the preseason as current No. 3 quarterback Haynes King (hamstring) recovers from the injury he sustained during Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Cardinals. Trask will likely see the field against the Bills next Saturday after Kenny Pickett and the starters get a few drives in. The Panthers waived/injured Malick Meiga (undisclosed) and Nick Hampton (undisclosed) in corresponding moves to make room for Trask on the roster.

Jimmy Horn Jr.

WR

Horn caught passes of 17 and 15 yards from Haynes King on the Panthers' final drive of the second quarter, which helped set up a 33-yard field goal from Ryan Fitzgerald. Horn added two more catches in the second half, including a 12-yard pass late in the fourth quarter that set up the Panthers deep in enemy territory and eventually led to a five-yard, game-winning rushing touchdown by King as time expired. Horn was a sixth-round selection of the Panthers in the 2025 NFL Draft but didn't see many touches during his rookie campaign, finishing with 11 catches (on 15 targets) for 108 yards and eight carries for 69 yards over 14 regular-season games. Xavier Legette figures to be Carolina's WR3 behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker this season, but Horn could see some additional work on special teams as a returner and could earn a larger role for himself on offense with a strong training camp and preseason. The Panthers' next preseason game takes place Saturday, Aug. 15 against the Bills in Buffalo.

David Moore

WR

Moore's lone catch came early in the second quarter, and he finished Thursday's game having played 18 total snaps (17 on offense, one on special teams). The 2017 seven-rounder spent most of last year on injured reserve due to a dislocated elbow and appeared in only four regular-season games before being a healthy scratch during the Panthers' NFC wild-card loss against the Rams. Moore is competing against Brycen Tremayne, Casey Washington, Ja'Seem Reed and John Metchie for a depth spot on the Panthers' 53-man roster.

Trevin Wallace

LB

Wallace underwent surgery to address a shoulder issue after an injury ended his year early in 2025, but he was able to suit up for the unofficial start of the preseason. He is a candidate for a starting role at linebacker in 2026, but he'll need to find a way to stay healthy to put himself on the IDP radar.

John Metchie III

WR

With rookie third-round pick Chris Brazzell (knee) ruled out for the season, Metchie might have a chance to push Xavier Legette for the No. 3 job, though this report suggests Metchie is also on the roster bubble. Metchie and Legette offer contrasting styles, which could work in Metchie's favor on a team where the top two wide receivers (Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker) look a lot more like Legette. At 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, Metchie figures to take a lot of snaps in the slot if he ends up earning a role in the Carolina offense. He recorded three receptions on six targets for 38 yards and a 36-yard kick return Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game against Arizona.

AJ Dillon

RB

Dillon's first three touches came in consecutive fashion early in the second quarter, as he rattled off his 18-yard reception and then gained four yards on his first run of the night. The veteran back followed it up with a one-yard touchdown run on the next play, and his final rush attempt of the night resulted in a game-long 13-yard run to start the following possession. Dillon was the second back in the game behind Trevor Etienne, and the former will look to continue making a strong impression in the Panthers' second preseason game on the road against the Bills on Saturday, Aug. 15.

Trevor Etienne

RB

With Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks both getting the night off, Etienne was the first back on the field for the Panthers and logged touches on each of the first three drives. He netted 12 yards via back-to-back runs on Carolina's third possession, but he was ultimately outperformed by both Miles Davis and veteran AJ Dillon after exiting the game. Etienne appeared in all 17 regular-season games as a rookie in 2025 and contributed 107 scrimmage yards, but he also added value on special teams with 733 kickoff-return yards and 163 yards on punt returns. Etienne will continue attempting to make a case for a role behind Hubbard and Brooks in Carolina's second preseason game, which unfolds Saturday, Aug. 15 on the road against the Bills.

Kenny Pickett

QB

Pickett was in on the first three drives for the Panthers, but the first pair of possessions netted a modest 38 yards on eight plays. However, the 2022 first-round pick was able to lead Carolina to its first touchdown the third time he had the ball, connecting with four different targets while helping drive the Panthers a total of 67 yards on 10 plays. Pickett kept most of his throws close to the line of scrimmage, but he recorded 19- and 18-yard completions to John Metchie and AJ Dillon, respectively, during the scoring march. Pickett projects to serve as the primary backup to Bryce Young during the regular season, and if Thursday's performance is any indication, the former appears to be picking up head coach Dave Canales' offense well in his first summer in Carolina.

Elijah Cooks

WR

Cooks was with the Saints on a reserve/future contract before being waived by the team in late April following the 2026 NFL Draft. He'll stay within the division in Carolina, and although he's considered a longshot to make the 53-man roster, a strong training camp could be enough for Cooks to stick around on the practice squad. He last saw NFL regular-season action in 2024 with the Jaguars, when he played two games and logged 14 snaps (10 offense, four special teams) without showing up on the box score otherwise.

Roc Taylor

WR

Taylor was not on an NFL team roster or practice squad during the 2025 season. He played for the Columbus Aviators in the UFL before a stint in the CFL with the Ottawa Redblacks, eventually being released in May. Now in Carolina, Taylor will have the opportunity to audition for a spot on the Panthers' 53-man roster or practice squad by the end of training camp.

Mitchell Evans

TE

Evans suffered a low-ankle sprain last Tuesday and was carted off the practice field. The tight end missed a few days of practice but appears to be back in uniform and pads. Evans will continue to compete with Ja'Tavion Sanders for the No. 2 tight end role behind Tommy Tremble.