6 observations from Panthers vs. Lions: Bryce Young’s good day masks team struggles

Bryce Young led his first touchdown drive in a Panthers uniform — and that might’ve been enough to mask Carolina’s third and final loss of the 2023 preseason.

Here are six observations from the Panthers’ 26-17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Friday night in Bank of America Stadium.

Bryce Young shows some moves

It’s worth posing the question: What is up with Panthers quarterbacks and not being able to slide?

Cam Newton rarely did, and it’s conceivable it led to the early retirement of the 6-foot-5, 245-pound phenom. On Friday night, Newton’s inverse physically (the 5-foot-10, 205-pound Young) scrambled on a third-and-9 for 13 yards and punctuated it by slowing down and awkwardly (and comically) plopping down on his butt.

Said head coach Frank Reich postgame, tongue firmly planted in his cheek: “We gotta work on his sliding a little bit.”

That was one of three rushes for Young. In total, those rushes yielded 21 yards — adding on to a day that saw him go 7-of-12 passing for 73 yards and a touchdown.

His moves did more than lead to rushing yards; it also salvaged a few offensive line breakdowns. There were two times on his first drive when Young needed to juke out a pass rusher to keep a play alive. Reich called that his admirable “instinct.” His second scramble prompted the production team at Bank of America Stadium to play the OutKast classic with the catchy chorus, I like the wayyyy you move.

His “moves” didn’t save everything, of course. Young still took a drive-stunting sack on his first drive when Ickey Ekwonu got beat on his blind side. But his day was good nonetheless.

With WR room in spotlight, Adam Theilen delivers

With the quarterback and running back depth charts pretty much settled, there was one offensive skill position unit under the spotlight: the wide receivers.

And there was opportunity on Friday night.

Three potential playmakers this year were sidelined. Laviska Shenault was out on concussion protocol. DJ Chark was out with a hamstring injury. Terrace Marshall was still battling a tweak in his back.

And the two other “locks” played well: Adam Thielen, a day-one starter and veteran, finished with four receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown — one that came thanks to a serviceable flag route and beautiful toss from Young. Jonathan Mingo, another Panthers early draft pick, was targeted twice and caught one pass for 14 yards.

So what does that mean for the so-considered “53-man roster bubble” guys — Shi Smith, Derek Wright and Javon Wims?

Wright finished with one target and no receptions, but he took a bunch of reps with the first team and was out of his pads after the halftime break. Those indicators were positive despite his lack of productivity.

Smith finished with two receptions for 9 yards and five targets (and one drop). And Wims was targeted four times and ended with one reception for 7 yards.

Eddy Piñeiro goes 1-for-1

Eddy Piñeiro made his preseason debut Friday. The kicker who the Panthers signed to a multi-year deal this offseason had been battling soreness in his kicking leg all training camp and sat out because of it, but he said he felt “amazing” earlier this week.

So head coach Frank Reich gave him the nod. And the 27-year-old followed through, nailing his only field-goal attempt from 41 yards out. Reserve kicker Matthew Wright still handled kickoffs.

First-team defensive backfield struggles

Friday didn’t necessarily imbue Panthers fans with confidence when it came to their first-team defensive backfield.

Former Carolina quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had his way for a bulk of the first half on Friday night. Not every piece of the Panthers secondary was on the field — Donte Jackson is still battling an ankle injury — but Jaycee Horn was.

So was CJ Henderson and Xavier Woods and Vonn Bell and Jeremy Chinn.

Lions QB Bridgewater played the full first half and went 13-for-22 for 178 yards and a touchdown — a chunk of that coming in one 70-yard toss right before the half. That was among the best halves of football Bridgewater has played in Bank of America Stadium.

The Bridgewater-led Lions scored 20 points before the half. The biggest Carolina blunders included a play where Lions running back Craig Reynolds ran right and juked out cornerback Henderson, who failed to set the edge, and cranked out a huge run. The Lions scored a few plays later. Henderson also was called for a defensive pass interference later in the half.

One of the unit’s bright spots was Keith Taylor. He saved what very well could’ve been a Lions’ return for a touchdown on the Panthers’ first kickoff. The Washington University product and Matt Rhule holdover was also in coverage on that aforementioned 70-yard touchdown — but that seemed to largely be a function of a communication breakdown.

Panthers who didn’t play

Perhaps more so than the Panthers’ previous two preseason games, this one was defined more by who wasn’t playing than who was.

Among those who didn’t suit up Friday included a bunch of codified defensive starters: DE Derrick Brown, OLB Brian Burns, LB Shaq Thompson, OLB Justin Houston, CB Donte Jackson and LB Frankie Luvu.

The list also included starting running back Miles Sanders, who was “TBD” coming into Friday because of a lingering groin injury but will “absolutely” be ready for Week 1, and his understudy in Chuba Hubbard.

Some impact players who would’ve likely played had they not been injured include wide receiver Chark (hamstring), outside linebacker Amaré Barno (who’s had a good camp), Cam Erving (sustained ankle injury against the Giants a few weeks ago), Marshall (back) and Shenault (concussion protocol).

Andy Dalton throws caution to the wind

Andy Dalton entered the game for his first bit of game action of the preseason. The veteran backup quarterback didn’t play in the first two games after reportedly having some tightness in his back before the preseason opener a few weeks ago.

His day? He threw everything (including caution to the wind), unafraid to take chances and make splashes. That resulted in a decent stat line — 6-of-11 for 60 yards — but also in a tough turnover right before the half: He threw behind Javon Wims, who had his defender beat in the end zone, and that resulted in a diving, momentum-stunting interception by the Lions’ Chase Lucas.

Quick hits

▪ Right after the aforementioned Dalton interception — the very next Carolina offensive play — the Panthers turned the ball over again. This one happened after a Cam Peoples’ fumble. It was the Appalachian State running back’s first carry of the preseason. He also notched another fumble on a brutal technicality in the final minute of the game, bobbling the ball as he billowed into the pylon which was later called a fumble out of the back of the end zone.

For what it’s worth: Peoples wasn’t necessarily playing for a spot on the full 53-man team. It was already a crowded running back room. Case in point: fourth-string back Spencer Brown (behind RB/returner Raheem Blackshear) has impressed all camp and was still on the roster bubble.

▪ Quarterback Matt Corral had an underwhelming performance in his final audition to make the Panthers’ 53-man roster. He said as much after the game. He finished 4-of-12 for 52 yards — but his highlight arrived after he pulled a Young/Newton impression, running once for 27 yards.

▪ No targets for Hayden Hurst, the team’s top tight end. Other tight ends caught the ball, though: Giovanni Ricci notched four targets and three receptions for 50 yards, and Tommy Temble had one reception for 21 yards.