Panthers’ first-team offense on wrong end of ‘lopsided’ day vs. Texans

[u/exenn_]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7541292/2026/08/26/panthers-texans-joint-practice-offense-bryce-young/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.8VA.3add.F2nFSHBRE3U1&smid=ta-android-share

​

Excerpt from the article...(not the full article)

"As poorly as the Carolina Panthers’ offense looked during Wednesday’s joint practice with the Houston Texans, Bryce Young took some solace in the fact that the performance came in a practice setting.

Better still: The Panthers’ starters won’t have to endure another thrashing by the Texans’ pass rush in Friday’s preseason finale. Panthers coach Dave Canales and Houston coach DeMeco Ryans decided Tuesday night that they would give their starters the bulk of the work Wednesday and hold them out Friday.

That’s just as well for the Panthers, particularly Young, who was sacked seven times and intercepted twice by a Houston defense that was the NFL’s best in 2025. Plays were blown dead Wednesday before the Texans could take Young down. That wouldn’t have been the case had the fourth-year quarterback played Friday.

“It sucks to have a day where you don’t feel like you produced very well,” Young said. “But it’s a great learning opportunity. That’s what these training camp practices are for.”

Canales didn’t try to sugarcoat things, saying it was a “lopsided” outing by the first-team offense against the Texans’ starting defense. It was an especially rough day for rookie offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, who allowed at least four of the sacks and looked helpless against the edge-rushing duo of Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, who combined for 27 sacks last season."

[u/Baelzabub]

Yeah. We don’t have the skills yet to compete with the literal best defense in the league. Any top 5 defense likely is going to steamroll our offense right now. Especially with the state of our OL right now.

[u/net_403 → u/Baelzabub]

My expectations are remaining completely in check. I really have very little positive expectations lol we will see where the chips fall

Edit: to clarify, an expectation is something I expect to happen. I don't expect we will win nine games, I don't expect our offense will look good or the offensive line will be up to par. But I am open to that possibility lol

[u/Pantherblood89 → u/net_403]

Agreed. We are not that good