The Carolina Panthers fell to the Cleveland Browns 30-10 in their preseason opener at Bank of America Stadium. The young rookie class had a mixed bag of performances, with some showing promise and others needing work.
Tetairoa McMillan made a strong debut as a wide receiver, catching two passes for 43 yards. Outside linebacker Nic Scourton also impressed, recording two tackles for loss and a sack in the first half. Undrafted rookie cornerback Corey Thornton had a standout performance, making three tackles, including one for loss and a pass defensed.
Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald hit a 32-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, while rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders had a solid debut, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Panthers’ defense struggled without key players Jaycee Horn and Derrick Brown.
Veteran backup quarterback Andy Dalton played into the third quarter but threw an interception. The team also made several special teams mistakes, including a muffed punt by Trevor Etienne and multiple penalties on kickoff coverage. Despite the mistakes, the Panthers are optimistic about their rookie class and will look to build on these performances in future games.
Source: https://www.panthers.com/news/rapid-reactions-solid-start-for-top-draft-picks-preseason-opener