Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) calls an audible during the first quarter of the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
Melina Myers
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
Friday night was redemptive for Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers’ first-string offense.
They needed it.
Six days after the Young-led Panthers were humbled by the Buffalo Bills — to the tune of no first downs through three series — the same Carolina offense marched into EverBank Stadium and delivered the kind of performance that will generate plenty of confidence. Young was decisive, his pocket was always clean, Tetairoa McMillan was productive, and Jonathon Brooks stomped into the end zone for the first time as a professional, honoring his late father to punctuate the moment.
This said, the first-team offense was far from the only group that played well in Friday night’s Panthers 34-17 win — a game, it’s important to say, that did not feature Jaguars starters.
Here’s a look at whose “stock” rose after the contest. Here’s whose stock diminished, too, as final cut day looms next week.
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (25) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first quarter during a preseason game at EverBank Stadium on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Nathan Ray Seebeck IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Stock up
Wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr.: Whatever slowed the second-year wide receiver down earlier this training camp has been dealt with and discarded. The speedy Horn, who mainly played with backup QB Kenny Pickett, flashed all over the field Friday night. His highlights: a 39-yard end-around rush, a 15-yard catch in the red zone that he held onto even as he was getting crushed and a nice punt return (that even caused a commotion on the Jaguars sideline). He couldn’t hang on to an 8-yard pass right before half, which would’ve made a field goal easier, but Ryan Fitzgerald nailed a 61-yarder anyway. No harm, no foul.
Running back AJ Dillon: This running back situation is turning into a conundrum for the Panthers. Dillon put together another great week of work, falling forward, finding creaks of daylight in the gaps created by a less-than-ideal second-team offensive line. His most impressive run of the night was a seven-yard bruiser where he slithered through the line and then carried a few defenders through the goal line. That’s two touchdowns in three games.
Cornerback Chau Smith-Wade: The first-team offense wasn’t the only group to put together a redemptive performance. Smith-Wade did, too. The defensive back, who’s fighting for a roster spot as a nickel corner, got shook out of his shoes on one run-stopping opportunity. A few plays later, he laid out for a Carter Bradley late pass over the middle and hauled in an interception; he nearly took it to the house, too. Smith-Wade has had a productive camp — just ask Young — but a performance like this might just cement his spot on the team in a competitive defensive back room this year.
Carolina Panthers cornerback Chau Smith-Wade (26) reacts after a turnover against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter during a preseason game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Nathan Ray Seebeck IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Cornerback Devonta Smith: Smith earned “stock up” privileges thanks to punching out a fumble in the Jaguars’ first drive of the second half. And creating turnovers is something this defense has struggled with — so such a play is promising. Still, his day was a bit uneven. He had an illegal contact penalty called on him during a first-half Jacksonville drive; later that same series, he got beat by tight end Hunter Long, who watched a touchdown catch slip through his fingers.
Defensive lineman Lee Hunter: This defensive line needs Derrick Brown. That is utterly apparent, even Friday, against the Jaguars’ second-team offense. But if anyone along the defensive line popped the most — at least upon first impression — it was the rookie. He was in the mix on several Panthers pressures, he earned a tackle for loss himself and chased down at least one screen like a madman. A nice bounce-back performance from a week ago.
Receiver John Metchie: Metchie was Pickett’s favorite target on Friday night, and he was sure-handed. And fast. And even good in the return game. Entering the fourth quarter, Metchie was already targeted a team-high seven times and notched a team-high six catches for 77 yards — his most impressive a slant he took for 25 yards. The only problem? He was on the field late into the game, with Horn resting and Ja’seem Reed hurt. He was getting good stuff on tape … but it might be for other teams.
First-team offense: One more note on this unit. They were on the field for 11 plays in two series. Young put together an impressive stat-line of five completions on six passes for 49 yards and a 100.7 passer rating. Brooks took four carries for 12 yards and a touchdown.
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (25) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first quarter during a preseason game at EverBank Stadium on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Nathan Ray Seebeck IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Stock down
Defensive lineman Aaron Hall: The defensive line is a vulnerable place for the Panthers — and that means that the competition is wide open. And while the Duke graduate has put together a decent camp, he hasn’t had a memorable preseason. Immediate impressions show Jared Harrison-Hunte — his direct competitor — had a more eventful night; Harrison-Hunte was in on the pressure that yielded Pat Jones’ sack early on, for instance. Both Harrison-Hunte and Hall exited the game around the same time.
Cornerback Corey Thornton: Thornton’s night was far from all-bad. The second-year corner had a nice run-stop, for instance, a necessity if he is going to play nickel corner with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on the outside. Still, there were moments he struggled. He missed at least two tackles; one of those came on an easy pitch-and-catch to the receiver he was guarding that yielded an 8-yard gain. He finished with two tackles on the night. But most of all, he is “stock down” because his direct competitor, Smith-Wade, had such a wonderful showing.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Ameer Abdullah (43) is tackled by Carolina Panthers cornerback Corey Thornton (31) during the first half of the preseason game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Melina Myers IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Safety Demani Richardson: Richardson got very little burn on Friday night. And he’s trying to break through in a room that’s been pretty much set since late July — Tre Moehrig, Nick Scott, Lathan Ransom and Wheatley.
Outside linebacker Trevis Gipson: Gipson couldn’t get anything going in his pass rushes on Friday night. His only tackle on the night came in special teams. The good news is that he wasn’t playing late into the game; his roster spot seems to be safe, and considering the way he played last year, that would make sense. But he has yet to flash this preseason as so many expected.
Tight ends: Darren Waller was out there pregame, bobbing his head and dancing to the uber-loud PA system in EverBank Stadium. And a snarky writer might call that the most memorable thing a Panthers tight end did all night. That wouldn’t be exactly true, of course. Tommy Tremble caught his two targets and totaled 20 yards on the night; Ja’Tavion Sanders hauled in his only target for 6 yards; Feleipe Franks added one catch for four yards; Mitchell Evans was open on a play-action roll-out … and had Pickett put the ball even a little bit on the money, Evans could’ve done something special with it. So there’s that. Another point of context: Sanders, Evans and Tremble all emerged without pads on at halftime — good news for all of them. But separation among the group is hard to detect.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrates with long snapper JJ Jansen during the first quarter of the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Melina Myers IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published August 21, 2026 at 10:34 PM.
The Charlotte Observer
Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.
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