July 25, 2026, 6:04 a.m. ET<\/p>\n
The 2025 campaign represented a breakthrough moment for the Carolina Panthers<\/a>, who clinched both their highest win total and their first playoff appearance since 2017. However, lifting your face out of the mud doesn’t necessarily mean you’re clean.<\/p>\n That’s probably the case for these Panthers, who won their division off a three-way tiebreaker<\/a> after finishing the season with an 8-9 record and a -69 scoring differential. Looking ahead, it’s not difficult to imagine Carolina taking a step back this year\u2014especially with a much tougher, first-place schedule ahead.<\/p>\n According to an analysis by Brad Gagnon at Bleacher Report<\/a>, he has the Panthers finishing under 7.5 wins in 2026. Gagnon writes:<\/p>\n Carolina wasn’t dealt a bad hand when it came to the schedule or injuries in 2025, but it is projected to have the second-toughest sked in the NFC in 2026.\u00a0And the defense does look like more of an asset than a liability, but I still don’t trust quarterback Bryce Young behind an offensive line that will at the very least lack continuity to start the 2026 campaign.\u00a0I could see the Panthers winning seven or eight, but all things considered, I think they’re more likely to win six or seven in the improving NFC South.<\/p>\n If they’re going to prove Gagnon wrong, the Panthers need quarterback Bryce Young to take a big step forward in his development. Plus, several other key young players like wideout Tetairoa McMillan, outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen and rookie offensive tackle Monroe Freeling\u2014who will be thrust into the starting lineup with Taylor Moton sidelined by a blood clot.<\/p>\n Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n Then again, it might not matter what the Panthers do if they continue to suffer from the bad luck with injuries<\/a> that they are right now.<\/p>\n Yesterday, second-year outside linebacker Nic Scourton went down with a season-ending ACL tear<\/a> in the first practice of training camp. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (knee), defensive linemen Tershawn Wharton (neck) and Bobby Brown III (hamstring) and cornerback Jaycee Horn (toe) are also currently sidelined.<\/p>\n That luck continued into Friday, as right guard Robert Hunt and cornerback Mike Jackson were both held out<\/a> of practice with back tightness.<\/p>\n So, 2026 is already looking to be an uphill battle for defending NFC South champs.<\/p>\n