The Panthers were the worst team in the NFL in 2023. If Week One is any indication, not much has changed in 2024.
Carolina went to New Orleans for the season opener and got destroyed, in a game that the Saints led 17-0 in the first quarter and 30-0 in the second. The final score of 47-10 actually looked closer than the game really was because the Saints took their feet off the gas in the second half.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is looking more and more like a draft bust. The first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Young had an ugly rookie season and played poorly again today, with some terrible passes that a top pick in Year Two should not be making. Sometimes when a highly drafted young quarterback is struggling you can say they have the physical tools but just haven’t learned to play at the NFL level yet, but Young looks like he lacks the physical tools to be a franchise quarterback.
Saints quarterback Derek Carr played well, completing 19 of 23 passes for 200 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Alvin Kamara had 15 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown.
But this game appeared to say more about the Panthers than it said about the Saints. Carolina has a long, long way to go. And it may not have its franchise quarterback.
Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is off to a good start on the 2024 season.
On the first drive of the Saints’ game against the Panthers today, Shaheed ran deep downfield and hauled in a pass from Derek Carr for a 59-yard touchdown. The Saints have an early 7-0 lead.
Shaheed blew past Panthers cornerback Jacyee Horn, who appeared to be expecting safety help that wasn’t there. The breakdown in coverage made it an easy downfield pitch-and-catch for Carr and Shaheed.
Last season Shaheed was an All-Pro return man, and the Saints would like to get more out of his big-play ability on offense as well. He showed on the first drive of the season that he’s very capable of big plays in the passing game.
Every week we bring you all the inactives from the 1 p.m. ET games in one post, constantly updated with the latest information.
Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s status for Sunday’s game has been closely watched all week because the wideout has reportedly been on the fence about playing without a contract extension in place. Chase warmed up on the field before the home game against New England on Sunday morning and he is active for the season opener.
That suggests Chase will play, but there have been a lot of twists and turns with the receiver since the start of training camp so we’ll see if he has his usual role. The Bengals will take as much as they can get with Tee Higgins out and the chance to start the year with a win on the line against the Patriots.
Bengals at Patriots
Bengals: WR Tee Higgins, WR Kendric Pryor, EDGE Cedric Johnson, T Amarius Mims, TE Tanner McLachlan, DT Kris Jenkins
Patriots: QB Joe Milton, WR Javon Baker, LB Curtis Jacobs, G Sidy Sow, T Zachary Thomas, T Demontrey Jacobs, DT Eric Johnson
Cardinals at Bills
Cardinals: WR Xavier Weaver, TE Travis Vokolek, OL Jon Gaines, DB Darren Hall, LB Jesse Luketa
Bills: T Ryan Van Demark, DE Dawuane Smoot, S Cole Bishop, LB Joe Andreessen, LB Eddie Ulofoshio, C Sedrick Van-Pran Granger, DE Javon Solomon
Vikings at Giants
Vikings: CB Fabian Moreau, DB Dwight McGlothern, WR Trishton Jackson, DT Levi Drake Rodriguez, DT Jalen Redmond, T Walter Rouse, QB Brett Rypien
Giants: S Anthony Johnson, CB Tre Hawkins, LB Boogie Basham, G Jake Kubas, QB Tommy DeVito
Titans at Bears
Titans: S Jamal Adams, LB Otis Reese, OL John Ojukwu, TE David Martin-Robinson, TE Thomas Odukoya, LB Ali Gaye
Bears: WR Tyler Scott, RB Roschon Johnson, OL Kiran Amegadjie, OL Bill Murray, DT Zacch Pickens, LB Noah Sewell, DE Dominique Robinson
Panthers at Saints
Panthers: S Jammie Robinson, CB Shemar Bartholomew, C Andrew Raym, G Jarrett Kingston, TE Tommy Tremble, TE Messiah Swinson, DE LaBryan Ray
Saints: WR A.T. Perry, QB Spencer Rattler, DT Khalen Saunders, LB D’Marco Jackson, LB Jaylan Ford, TE Dallin Holker, DT John Ridgeway
Steelers at Falcons
Steelers: QB Russell Wilson, WR Roman Wilson, DB Jalen Elliott, OL Isaac Seumalo, DL Dean Lowry
Falcons: RB Jase McClellan, CB Antonio Hamilton, DL Brandon Dorlus, OL Jovaughn Gwyn, WR Casey Washington, DL Ruke Orhorhoro
Jaguars at Dolphins
Jaguars: S Daniel Thomas, OL Javon Foster, OL Cole Van Lanen, DT Esezi Otomewo, DT Jordan Jefferson, DT Jeremiah Ledbetter
Dolphins: RB Jaylen Wright, CB Ethan Bonner, LB Channing Tindall, LB Mo Kamara, OL Andrew Meyer, WR Malik Washington
Texans at Colts
Texans: WR John Metchie, RB Cam Akers, S M.J. Stewart, LB Jamal Hill, G Nick Broeker
Colts: C Tanor Bortolini, WR Josh Downs, QB Sam Ehlinger, CB Dallis Flowers, T Blake Freeland, K Matt Gay, TE Will Mallory
The Panthers have made several Saturday moves centering on their tight ends — a group that has had injury concerns entering the season.
Carolina placed Ian Thomas on injured reserve, which means he’ll miss at least the next four weeks. He has been sidelined by a calf injury suffered during training camp.
The team signed tight end Feleipe Franks off of the practice squad to the active roster to fill that spot at tight end. The club also added defensive tackle Jayden Peevy to the 53.
Cornerback Keenan Isaac was waived to make room on the roster.
Additionally, the Panthers elevated running back Mike Boone and cornerback Lonnie Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s season opener in New Orleans.
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore’s practice participation is trending in the right direction ahead of the Saints’ Sunday game against the Panthers.
Lattimore was limited in practice on Wednesday because of a hip injury, but he was bumped up to full participation in Thursday’s session. That suggests he’s on track to play in the opener.
Assuming he does, it will be his first appearance since Week 10 of last season. Lattimore missed the rest of the year with an ankle injury and he was limited to seven games in 2022, so the Saint will be hoping that news continues to be positive on the health front.
The Saints made one other change to their injury report. Wide receiver A.T. Perry missed practice with a hand injury after not appearing on the report at all on Wednesday. Linebacker Willie Gay (back) and guard Nick Saldiveri (calf) were limited for the second day in a row while linebacker Jaylan Ford (hamstring), tight end Dallin Hooker (ankle), linebacker D’Marco Jackson (calf), and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (calf) missed practice again.
Former Panthers vice president of player personnel Adrian Wilson has had two of the three domestic violence charges filed against him in Arizona dismissed recently.
Wilson was arrested in June and charged with assault, criminal damage, and disorderly conduct for an incident at his home on June 1. Per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com, court records show the assault and criminal damage were dropped and that Wilson has pleaded guilty to the third with deferred prosecution.
In a statement to his X account, Wilson said that he entered a diversion program on the third charge and that it will be dismissed upon its completion.
“With the hearing behind me, I can now begin the process of healing from this very unfortunate incident and the embarrassment it has brought to my family and me,” Wilson said in his statement posted Wednesday. “I deeply regret my actions on June 1 and recommit to being a better person and father. I have learned a great deal and look forward to rebuilding my relationship with my kids, lending my 20+ years of expertise, once again, to the game of football, and supporting community and non-profit causes I believe in.”
The Panthers parted ways with Wilson in July. He was previously part of the Cardinals’ personnel department.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is once again a team captain.
The Panthers will have four permanent captains this season: Young, defensive tackle Derrick Brown, linebacker Shaq Thompson, and special teamer Sam Franklin Jr.
Young was also a captain last year, when he was declared the franchise quarterback after going first overall in the draft. Now the Panthers need him to prove with his play that he is, indeed, a franchise quarterback.
Thompson has been a Panthers captain for five seasons. Brown and Franklin are both captains for the first time. Franklin is currently on injured reserve with a foot injury but is expected back during the season and is the Panthers’ top special teams player in addition to playing safety.
The Panthers will also pick one additional captain for each game.
Panthers running back Miles Sanders injured his finger in Wednesday’s practice when he hit it on a helmet. Sanders had his finger wrapped afterward and was headed to get it examined but expects to be ready for the season opener, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.
“Sucks this happened before Week 1,” he said.
Coach Dave Canales also said he expects Sanders to play.
Chuba Hubbard beat out Sanders for the job early last season, but both backs will have roles at least until rookie Jonathon Brooks returns. Brooks tore an ACL in November while at the University of Texas.
Sanders had 156 touches for 586 yards and a touchdown last season, his first with the Panthers.
Tight ends Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) and Ian Thomas (calf) did not practice Wednesday, prompting the Panthers to sign tight end Messiah Swinson off the Packers’ practice squad.
Backup tackle Yosh Nijman (tibia) was limited.
The Saints have a couple of defensive starters listed as limited participants in practice in their first injury report of the season.
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is dealing with a hip injury and linebacker Willie Gay has a back injury.
Lattimore was limited to 10 games by an ankle injury last season and he only played seven games after lacerating his kidney in 2022, which is part of the reason why his name came up in trade chatter this offseason. The Saints didn’t move him, though, and he’s set to start against the Panthers this Sunday as long as he’s healthy enough to go.
Linebacker Pete Werner (shoulder) was a full participant and guard Nick Saldiveri (calf) was limited. Linebacker Jaylan Ford (hamstring), tight end Dallin Hokker (ankle), linebacker D’Marco Jackson (calf), and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (calf) did not practice.
The Panthers have added a tight end to their roster ahead of Week One.
The team announced that they signed Messiah Swinson off of the Packers practice squad. They had an open roster spot after releasing edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson earlier this week.
Swinson was undrafted out of Arizona State this year and signed to the Green Bay practice squad after being released as part of their cut to 53 players. He was targeted with one pass in the preseason, but did not have a reception.
Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble have been dealing with injuries, which leaves Swinson, Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Jordan Matthews as the healthy players at the position.