The Carolina Panthers have started their second week of preseason practice as we get deeper into the weeds of training camp. Just a handful of days removed from their dramatic walk-off win against the Arizona Cardinals, team morale remains high.
However, as the team prepares for its next preseason endeavor against the Buffalo Bills, third-year head coach Dave Canales left no doubt on Sunday after practice that the starters will play this weekend.
No longer the offensive play-caller, Canales has settled into his CEO-like role. For the sake of the players and a better start to the year, the hope is that the head coach is making better calls with his starters ahead of the regular season.
Dave Canales' inconsistent preseason may have led to Carolina Panthers' slow starts
For the past two seasons, one of the struggles Canales has been criticized for is his approach to the preseason. He never seemed to have a grasp of who should start, how long the starters needed to play, and how many games they should play in.
Dave Canales tells us that starters will play in this weekend’s preseason game against the Bills. pic.twitter.com/IkpMsGnGu4
— Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) August 9, 2026
In 2024, Canales didn't play starters until the final preseason game, ironically, against Buffalo. Last summer, starters got at least two drives, but their coaches' approach was more based on in-the-moment feel. When things started to get ugly against the Houston Texans, some argued that he pulled them prematurely.
The common denominator in the past two preseason games is the Panthers' slow starts: 1-7 two years ago and 1-3 last fall. In both instances, the team found its groove at the right time, but it is something Carolina cannot afford to have happen coming off a division title and one of the tougher schedules in the NFL.
What is helpful is that Canales has much less on his plate than a year ago. This allows him to, in theory, make better decisions with managing the roster and getting the right opportunities for his players to have the best preparation ahead of Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.
Longer preseason bids a better approach for the Carolina Panthers
Canales isn't perfect, but one thing I've seen for the last two years and change is that he is an honest coach; one of the most honest in the league.
He knows he's made mistakes as someone who may have gotten the head coach gig in Carolina too early. Canales will admit when he is wrong, and that is a rarity amongst coaches across the league.
Having the Pro Football Hall of Fame game was important for Canales. It allowed him an extra opportunity for many players to see the field and put out tape. It also allowed the Panthers to approach the preseason in an old-school fashion.
With two joint practices remaining, Canales should be vigilant with his starters. However, I would expect him to play them against the Jacksonville Jaguars in what could be considered the dress-rehearsal game for both teams.
Look for Canales to get his starts quite a few series in that matchup before using the final joint practice against the Texans as another opportunity against the NFL's best defense.
And hopefully, this shift in approach brings a more imposing start when the real action arrives.
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