The Carolina Panthers wrapped up a winless preseason, finishing 0–3 after a 19–10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their final game. The stretch of games has raised questions about the team’s readiness as the regular season approaches.
The preseason began with a 30–10 defeat against the Cleveland Browns, where Bryce Young briefly provided a spark with an early touchdown drive before turnovers and miscues took over. In the second outing, the offense sputtered again in a 20–3 loss to the Houston Texans. Backup quarterback Andy Dalton left with an elbow injury, and Bryce Young saw limited playing time, taking only six snaps.
The finale against Pittsburgh showed flashes of improvement in playcalling under head coach Dave Canales, but backup quarterback Jack Plummer’s performance—marked by both a touchdown and an interception—highlighted the ongoing search for consistency. Across all three games, the Panthers’ offense struggled to establish rhythm, while the defense failed to generate pressure or consistently disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
Despite the lack of victories, the preseason was not without positives. Rookie edge rusher Princely Umanmielen displayed potential, and several players, including Brycen Tremayne, Trevor Etienne, Shemar Bartholomew, Jaden Crumedy, Jacoby Windmon, and kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, made the most of their opportunities to compete for roster spots.
The Panthers will now turn their focus to the regular season, where they hope to resolve offensive issues, shore up defensive weaknesses, and find stability at quarterback. While preseason results do not dictate regular-season outcomes, the team enters Week 1 with significant areas for improvement and an urgency to find early success.
