The Carolina Panthers kicked off their 2024 preseason with a 30-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns, but despite the defeat, head coach Andy Dalton’s coaching decisions and snap counts provided valuable insight into the team’s depth chart. Here’s what stood out from the numbers.
Quarterback Bryce Young had a promising performance, throwing for one touchdown on his two drives, while rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan made a strong debut with 43 receiving yards in just two catches. Jalen Coker led all receivers with snaps and a touchdown, but struggled to make an impact in the passing game.
On defense, rookie inside linebacker Bam Martin-Scott took an early lead with 35 defensive snaps, while Thomas Incoom followed closely behind with 34. Princely Umanmielen, a third-round pick, showed promise as a pass-rusher and received more playing time than second-rounder Nic Scourton.
The Panthers are still searching for contributors on special teams, but rookies Ryan Fitzgerald (32-yard field goal) and Matthew Wright (extra point) had positive performances. With the preseason over, the coaching staff will now focus on finalizing their 53-man roster.
The push to get Jalen Coker more work is real, as he played a significant amount of time, topping the 50% barrier. However, Tetairoa McMillan received more playing time with Andy Dalton and the second team than he did with Bryce Young and the ones. Rico Dowdle had a notable performance in the kicking game, logging 14 snaps to Chuba Hubbard’s six.
With the coaching staff making adjustments and trying out young reserve players, there is still much to be determined about the Panthers’ depth chart.
Source: https://www.panthers.com/news/inside-the-numbers-browns-at-panthers-in-preseason-week-1