The Carolina Panthers are 2-2 at the bye week. It's been an up-and-down start from head coach Dave Canales' squad, with the highs high and the lows low through four weeks of the campaign.
Fans are largely optimistic after beating the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football, but it remains a precarious situation for now. If the Panthers want to navigate trickier challenges after their extended rest period, everyone must pitch in.
Some have greatly exceeded expectations so far. That's a real positive, but other players are struggling to generate the momentum needed when bigger things were expected.
Plenty of time remains to turn things around. But these three players need to step things up sooner rather than later.
Carolina Panthers players who have underwhelmed at the 2026 bye week
Robert Hunt, OL
Robert Hunt is being paid like one of the league's premier right guards. Unfortunately, he hasn't shown it over the first four games of 2026.
Hunt looks a little slower out of the snap. He seems a little weaker against the run, and new frailties that weren't evident over his first two years with the Panthers have emerged.
The Pro Bowler has too much talent for this to continue, but he will need to raise his consistency moving forward without stud left guard Damien Lewis on the other side of the interior.
If Hunt's problems persist, the Panthers have a big decision to make next offseason. So the lineman must leave no doubt regarding his importance.
Tre'von Moehrig, S
Carolina's defense has shown sme improvements this season, but they are missing some key men due to injury. This is especially evident in the secondary, with the stud cornerback tandem of Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Sr. sidelined for extended stretches.
That means others have to take charge. Veteran safety Tre'von Moehrig has to do more, and he's struggling to reach the same heights that made him an exceptional addition to the squad last season.
Moehrig is missing a lot of assignments. He's never been the strongest in coverage, but his influence is waning closer to the line of scrimmage. Like Hunt, he is too talented to let this continue, but the pressure is on to produce more effectively after the bye week.
Luke Fortner, C
The Panthers took a big risk at the center position this offseason, letting Cade Mays walk in free agency and replacing him with Luke Fortner. He was nothing more than a short-term stopgap, but with fifth-round rookie Sam Hecht also looking for playing time, the Panthers will monitor his performance closely.
And if his poor run continues, Canales must be ruthless. This involves giving Hecht a shot, who is more athletic and could provide the spark needed to upgrade the offensive line's anchor.
Fortner will be the first to admit that he hasn't played well. He could get a post-bye reprieve, but the margin for error is shrinking rapidly for the veteran.
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