4 Key Takeaways From Panthers' Preseason Win Over Jaguars

Bryce Young got to play in two drives for the Panthers, and he showed what he needed to. The quarterback completed five of his six passes for 49 yards with no turnovers. The quarterback earned a 100.7 passer rating.

Kyle Trask came in and was just as efficient, completing all four of his passes for 52 yards and one score. Kenny Pickett was solid as well, completing 15 of 25 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown.

It’s a good sign that all three passers looked solid. It shows that they have a firm grasp on the offense, and it should make everybody feel optimistic about the 2026 offense.

Offensive Line Was Much Improved

The offensive line, specifically on the interior, was not good against the Bills. It was concerning because it seemed like the depth was going to be a serious problem in 2026.

Well, the Panthers had starting guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis back on the field, and the unit definitely looked better. Brady Christensen and Sam Hecht both looked much better as well, which is a great sign.

The unit didn’t allow a single sack on the night, and the ground game had much more space to work with. The Jaguars have a solid defense, too, so it’s not like this wasn’t a tough test.

Linebacker Spot Next to Devin Lloyd Could Be a Problem

The Panthers paid Devin Lloyd handsomely to lead the middle of the defense. We know that Lloyd will handle one linebacker spot, but what about the other? Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus are battling for the spot, and the results have not been promising.

It was hoped that Wallace would take a third-year leap, but that doesn’t seem like it’s happening. Cherelus has only ever been a depth piece and special teamer, and he hasn’t impressed in the preseason either.

On Friday, both linebackers had some rough moments. Wallace and Cherelus both had two tackles a piece while struggling in pass coverage. Rookie Jackson Kuwatch has been the best linebacker other than Lloyd, which is a really bad sign.

Chau Smith-Wade Should Be the Starting Nickel

Chau Smith-Wade and Corey Thornton have been battling for the nickel spot all summer. Actually, the team even experimented with Jaycee Horn at the position earlier this summer, as it was unclear if either player would step up.

Well, Smith-Wade took a big step toward claiming that spot Friday. The corner collected one tackle and one interception. That interception was the first turnover by the Panthers’ defense this preseason.