In case you weren’t aware, we finally have ourselves some Carolina Panthers football on Saturday.
Here are the top storylines to keep note of during the preseason opener against the New York Jets:
The start of a new era
The future becomes the present for the Panthers on Saturday afternoon, as 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young will take an NFL field for the very first time. So, what should we expect?
Well, given the enormous amount of praise he’s received at every turn this offseason, Young may have to go—give or take—10-for-10 with about 200 yards and five touchdowns to meet the rave reviews. But here, in reality, the Panthers will just look to get his feet wet in taking the next appropriate step forward.
Enjoy the moment, folks. Just temper any outrageous expectations.
Ok, Corral
Saturday will also be a showcase, to an even more urgent degree, for second-year quarterback Matt Corral.
With Young as the chosen one and 13-year veteran Andy Dalton as the solidified backup, the 2022 third-round pick appears to be the odd man out. And while he said he prefers to stick around in Carolina, Corral may be auditioning for other passer-needy teams this summer.
Gaining an edge
Carolina now has quite a formidable pass-rushing partnership in Pro Bowlers Brian Burns and Justin Houston. But, as defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero alluded to last week, they’ll need more than just two of them thangs.
Look for Evero and the Panthers to give their backup edge defenders plenty of chances to earn a spot in the rotation this preseason. So—with the exception of an injured Marquis Haynes Sr.—there will be eyes on Yetur Gross-Matos, DJ Johnson, Kobe Jones and Amaré Barno starting Saturday.
