Panthers Roll Past Jaguars 34-17 in Preseason Matchup

Carolina Finds Its Footing in Jacksonville

The Carolina Panthers delivered one of their most encouraging performances of the preseason Friday night, defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-17 at EverBank Stadium. Carolina’s starters made the most of their limited opportunities, while the defense and depth players continued to make plays throughout the game. The Panthers improved to 2-1 in the preseason with the victory.

Head coach Dave Canales wanted his starters to receive roughly 15-20 snaps, but the first team units accomplished what they needed in significantly less time. Bryce Young completed 5 of 6 passes for 49 yards, looking more comfortable and efficient than he did in Carolina’s preseason opener.

Jonathon Brooks Scores His First Touchdown

Perhaps the biggest storyline of the night was the continued comeback of running back Jonathon Brooks.

After missing the entire 2025 season while recovering from a second ACL tear, Brooks returned to game action last week against the Buffalo Bills. Friday night, he took another major step forward by finding the end zone.

Brooks scored on a one yard touchdown run in the first quarter, giving Carolina an early 7-0 lead. The touchdown capped a promising drive that featured several strong plays from the Panthers’ offense. After Brooks broke off an 11 yard run and helped protect Young on the following play, Young connected with Tommy Tremble for a 15 yard gain before finding rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan for another big play.

Carolina eventually reached the 1-yard line, where Brooks was given the opportunity to finish the drive. He powered the ball up the middle and crossed the goal line for the touchdown.

While the preseason score does not count toward Brooks’ official regular season statistics, the moment carried plenty of meaning. Following the touchdown, Brooks touched the tattoo on his arm honoring his late father and pointed toward the sky before celebrating with his teammates.

Brooks finished the night with five carries for 18 yards and a touchdown, giving the Panthers another encouraging look at a player they hope can become an important part of their offense this season.

Defense Creates Problems for Jacksonville

The Panthers also received an impressive performance from their defense despite holding out four defensive starters. Carolina forced Jacksonville to settle for field goals early and generated consistent pressure in the red zone.

Patrick Jones II recorded a sack of Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens, while Chau Smith-Wade came away with an interception that gave Carolina another short-field opportunity.

The Panthers continued adding points after their starters left the game. A.J. Dillon scored on a seven-yard touchdown run, Roc Taylor added another rushing touchdown, and Casey Washington caught a touchdown pass from Kyle Trask.

Ryan Fitzgerald also connected on a 61-yard field goal, adding another highlight to an impressive night for Carolina.

Panthers Leave Jacksonville With Momentum

Jacksonville scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, but Carolina remained in control for most of the night. The game was eventually called with two minutes remaining because of weather.

For the Panthers, the final score was less important than the progress they showed. Young looked sharp, the defense created turnovers, and Brooks continued his long-awaited comeback.

Most importantly, Brooks’ touchdown provided another memorable moment in his journey back to full strength. With one preseason game remaining before the regular season, Carolina has plenty of reasons to feel encouraged about what it saw in Jacksonville.