Every week here on the “Studs and duds” post, we set out to identify the best and worst performers from each outing for the Carolina Panthers. And yeah, it’s not been a simple task finding many studs for this team in recent years.
Unfortunately, that task did not get simpler to start the new campaign—as the Panthers ate an ugly 47-10 loss at the hands of the New Orleans Saints this afternoon.
But hey, we can try to find at least a little light to go with the darkness, right?
Here are our studs and duds from Sunday . . .
Stud: WR Xavier Legette
Let’s start out with a positive in the rookie Legette, who was solid in his opportunities. The 2024 first-rounder reeled in four receptions for 35 yards and even took back a kick for a 28-yard return.
Dud: QB Bryce Young
Young’s “comeback” campaign from a rough rookie year got off to an abysmal start. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick, who was errant on a number of his attempts throughout the day, completed just 13 of his 30 passes for 161 yards and two interceptions—including one on his very first chuck of 2024.
Dud: RB Chuba Hubbard
With a bunch of offseason talk about the Panthers wanting to ground-and-pound their opponents, the team’s No. 1 rusher seemed to be lined up for a productive day. Hubbard, however, totaled six carries for 14 yards and was not targeted through the air.
Stud: LB Shaq Thompson
We’ll get to his teammates in a bit, but Thompson did all he could to keep the Panthers from being completely run off the turf at Caesars Superdome. The 10th-year veteran notched a game-high 10 tackles, two of which went for losses.
Dud: DC Ejiro Evero
Evero’s defense was outmatched from the get-go, allowing a 59-yard touchdown pass between quarterback Derek Carr and wideout Rashid Shaheed on the opening possession of the game. They’d proceed to let the Saints score in each of their next eight (yes, eight) drives.
New Orleans’ 47-total output set a new franchise record for a season opener.
Stud: KR Raheem Blackshear
The defense’s futility made Blackshear a very, very busy man—as he had to field eight kickoff returns. So let’s give him and his 204 yards of work some recognition.
