Panthers will play starters in first 2 preseason games

[Captain Morgan]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales said Friday that starters will play in the first two preseason games, stopping just short of admitting he made a mistake last season holding them out.

The plan includes playing quarterback Bryce Young, who got off to a historically bad start to the 2024 regular season that got him benched after opening 0-2.

Carolina opens their preseason schedule Friday at home against Cleveland, followed by an August 15 road game at Houston and August 21 home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

Canales said he will evaluate after the first two games whether starters will play in the third game.

"Kind of going through it last year, we had a mix of veteran players, but [this is] predominantly a pretty young team,'' said Canales, who has at least six new starters to the defense that was the worst in the league a year ago. "I just can't pass up the opportunities. The reps in games are valuable.

"[But] it goes to the night before, when guys know they're going to go out there, they've got to make a decision to play football. So it starts the night before with the prep. You start thinking about your plan, taking care of your body, making sure you get your rest.''

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45880676/panthers-starters-play-first-2-preseason-games-says-coach

[PNW_PantherMan]

[frankw]

[jfra78]

Good

[Chief Keek]

About time

[uncfan888]

At least he is learning from his mistakes

[Basbear]

They need to play more than a couple series or two, weak soft BS

 

Play them a half in each game or until they don't need the exp.....

[mc52beast]

Gotta find a balance between getting your starters reps and getting young guys on the field. They can’t learn standing on the sidelines. 
 

Oh yeh, I remember when we had some guy named Rhule coaching the team and he basically bubble wrapped Sam Darnold because he thought his psyche would get destroyed.

[Butterflyj30]

I agree with this 100%

[uncfan888]

1 hour ago, mc52beast said:

Gotta find a balance between getting your starters reps and getting young guys on the field. They can’t learn standing on the sidelines. 
 

Oh yeh, I remember when we had some guy named Rhule coaching the team and he basically bubble wrapped Sam Darnold because he thought his psyche would get destroyed.

I remember when we had a guy named canales that bubble wrapped Bryce. 

I'm glad he's changing his tune

Edited August 2, 2025 by uncfan888

[Camp Fodder]

[Leeroy Jenkins Ph.D.]

Was on the fence about going to the Texans preseason game.  Guess I'm in now. 

[kungfoodude]

14 hours ago, mc52beast said:

Gotta find a balance between getting your starters reps and getting young guys on the field. They can’t learn standing on the sidelines. 
 

Oh yeh, I remember when we had some guy named Rhule coaching the team and he basically bubble wrapped Sam Darnold because he thought his psyche would get destroyed.

I mean a lot of our starters are young guys that need reps. 

Outside RB, OL, AT, and Brown...who doesn't either need more NFL reps or just reps with this Panthers team in general?