2 winners (and 5 losers) from Carolina Panthers' loss at the Saints in Week 1

Any hope and optimism surrounding the Carolina Panthers disintegrated before half-time of their Week 1 contest. They were humiliated at the New Orleans Saints, giving up 47 points and displaying almost no genuine growth despite head coach Dave Canales' hard work throughout the summer.

This was a gut check for those who thought the Panthers could make significant strides in 2024. They lacked the right quality and were unprepared for the challenges that lay ahead. If Canales was under any illusions about the size of this tough task, it should be abundantly clear right now.

Once again, the Panthers must pick themselves off the canvas and show some character. This will sting, there's no getting away from that. Showing the correct resolve heading into a tricky-looking home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 is paramount in pursuit of giving everyone associated with the franchise an extra sense of pride.

That's for the immediate future. For now, here are two winners and five losers from Carolina's cataclysmic defeat at the Caesars Superdome in Week 1.

Winners and losers from the Carolina Panthers' loss at the Saints

Loser No. 1

Jordan Fuller - Carolina Panthers S

Letting Vonn Bell walk in favor of signing Jordan Fuller in free agency was a contentious issue. The Carolina Panthers went with familiarity within Ejiro Evero's scheme rather than a potentially more accomplished performer and leader. It wasn't a good start to the player's career in a different environment.

Fuller misread a support assignment early that resulted in a long touchdown pass to put veteran quarterback Derek Carr on the front foot. This was a knock to his confidence and things didn't improve much after that. It was deeply concerning, especially considering his previous knowledge of Evero's schematic demands.

The Panthers were miserable across the entire defense aside from one of two encouraging efforts. Fuller will be the first to admit things didn't go well. He's also got enough experience to ensure this is a blip rather than an ongoing trend.

Winner No. 1

Eku Leota - Carolina Panthers OLB

It was hard to find any positives, in all honesty. The Carolina Panthers started slowly and couldn't pick things up en route to another pathetic performance. This has become almost synonymous with the organization since team owner David Tepper took charge. The result and lack of urgency mean it could be another rocky campaign for their long-suffering fanbase in 2024.

One could make a case for Eku Leota standing out as a shining light amid the turmoil. The edge rusher maximized his involvement to catch the eye on occasion. He finished with three tackles for loss and a sack, which was needed considering how much Jadeveon Clowney was struggling to make an impression on the opposite side.

Things weren't perfect for Leota, but he was at least displaying maximum effort and turning opportunities into plays when they arrived. He looks head and shoulders above former third-round selection D.J. Johnson. However, the Panthers must address their edge-rushing options as a matter of urgency in the coming days.

Leota's proven his worth as a rotational piece who could also assist on special teams. That's something positive to take from the contest.

Loser No. 2

Shy Tuttle - Carolina Panthers DL

Shy Tuttle is not a nose tackle. Let's just call this situation for what it is. There's also enough evidence to suggest he's not suited to the position despite the Panthers' insistence to keep him as the defensive line's anchor.

Hopes were high that Tuttle could bounce back from a disappointing first season with the franchise. He's got two productive 3-4 defensive ends alongside him - Derrick Brown and A'Shawn Robinson. Sunday's game at the New Orleans Saints didn't come with any progress whatsoever.

Tuttle was pushed around and couldn't get his core base together quickly enough. New Orleans ran all over the Panthers to the tune of 180 rushing yards and two touchdowns from 39 combined touches. Not having a genuine nose tackle clogging up space on the interior remains an overlooked issue that hasn't been addressed effectively enough.

Hopefully, this will be a rude awakening for Tuttle and he responds accordingly. However, there is enough game film to suggest he might not even reach expectations at the nose tackle spot after being thrust into the position last summer.

Loser No. 3

Josey Jewell - Carolina Panthers LB

Frankie Luvu's presence already looks sorely missed at the defensive second level. The Carolina Panthers made an effort to keep him around, but the ferocious linebacker opted to join the Washington Commanders to see if he could enter the elite category under head coach Dan Quinn's guidance.

This ripped the beating heart out of this defense. Josey Jewell was the man tasked with filling the void. He's a trusted associate of Ejiro Evero's from their time together on the Denver Broncos. It's early days, but this looks like a significant downgrade.

Jewell was a yard off the pace in this one. He couldn't wrap up runners at the initial contact point and was sluggish in coverage to further raise concerns. Again, he wasn't the only defensive player to fluff their lines. He was one of the worst performers on a dismal afternoon at the office.

It's worth noting that Jewell didn't play much in the preseason. Getting his football legs back underneath him was a small solace to take from the contest. But he needs to be better in Week 2 to avoid any lingering doubts about his outlook.

Loser No. 4

Diontae Johnson - Carolina Panthers WR

Big things were expected from Diontae Johnson right out of the gate. The wide receiver acquired via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers quickly established himself as the No. 1 option throughout the offseason. His emerging chemistry with quarterback Bryce Young left reasons for positivity heading into their regular-season opener at the New Orleans Saints.

Johnson struggled to get going in this one. The Saints keyed in on the prolific pass-catcher quickly and nullified his threat. There were separation issues compared to the rest. Even when the former Toledo star got open, Young couldn't muster the accuracy needed to make a difference.

The wideout eventually finished the game with two receptions from six targets for 19 receiving yards. This wasn't what anyone with the Panthers had in mind after such an encouraging offseason. Johnson wasn't the only one who struggled, but he's held to a higher standard than most as a Pro Bowl-caliber performer.

There's enough in Johnson's locker to ensure he plays better than this moving forward. But much will also depend on whether Young can galvanize his performance levels effectively enough after a horror show in Week 1.

Winner No. 2

Mike Jackson Sr. - Carolina Panthers CB

As previously stated, there were very few positives to take from the contest. It was a woeful start for the Carolina Panthers - a completely unacceptable way for Dave Canales to begin his head coaching tenure versus divisional opposition.

The defensive frailties were evident throughout. This unit lost some established stars throughout the offseason and it showed. The New Orleans Saints had their way from the outset and kept their foot on the gas until the time came to rest starters in the fourth quarter. Even so, veteran Mike Jackson Sr. emerged as a moderately bright light amid the embarrassment.

Jackson was a late arrival to the Panthers following his trade from the Seattle Seahawks. He began the contest on fire, looking explosive and physical in coverage. He didn't have things all his way, but he was the best of a bad bunch in the secondary.

This is what the Panthers were expecting when they acquired Jackson. He's dependable enough, but he'll give up some plays. Hopefully, he can build on this relatively positive performance once familiarity with Ejiro Evero's defensive concepts improves.

Loser No. 5

Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers QB

Bryce Young is walking a precarious tightrope this season. The Panthers placed a tremendous amount of faith in the signal-caller through their offseason investments. Couple this with the proven credentials of head coach Dave Canales when it comes to galvanizing struggling quarterbacks, and it's not hard to see why hopes were raised.

These increased expectations evaporated almost immediately. Young was nothing short of abysmal throughout the contest. He threw an interception on his first offensive play and things didn't get much better after that. There are genuine hesitancy and confidence issues where the former Alabama standout is concerned. It was an unmitigated disaster from start to finish.

Young looked visibly dejected after the contest when speaking to the media. It's only one game, but the Panthers cannot let this become an ongoing trend if they want their monumental investment in the Heisman Trophy winner to pay off.

It didn't take long for the critics to resurface after a performance that yielded a QBR of 10.7. Young's got a significant amount of hard work ahead. Bouncing back in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers is crucial.

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