The Carolina Panthers opted not to suit more than 30 players - most of whom will occupy integral roles in 2024 - for their preseason curtain raiser at the New England Patriots. Head coach Dave Canales believes minimizing the risk of injury to key personnel is more beneficial than getting game-day reps at this stage. That's not an opinion shared by most around the league, so it remains to be seen whether his approach pays off.
Backups and third-stringers got the opportunity to shine in the absence of most starters. It showed, with the Panthers mustering just three points and displaying a lack of continuity on offense in difficult conditions. This wasn't a big surprise, although fans will be watching progress over the next few weeks closely after seeing what a bad preseason did for Frank Reich's hopes in 2023.
Canales is confident his methods will bear fruit when the real action begins. The Panthers are working from the bottom up and will be looking for gradual improvements rather than anything too drastic. General manager Dan Morgan gained a lot of useful evaluation information regarding those on the fringes. Not all of it was good.
With this in mind, here are four winners and three losers from Carolina's preseason loss at Gillette Stadium.
Winners and losers from Carolina Panthers preseason defeat at the Patriots
Winner No. 1
Lamar Jackson - Carolina Panthers CB
Videos of cornerback Lamar Jackson getting burned for big gains were frequent over the early stages of training camp. However, there was a lot to like about the way he applied himself in a more familiar game-day environment.
Jackson was an undoubted positive from an otherwise disappointing evening for the Carolina Panthers. His coverage was assured and the former Nebraska star has the size and length Ejiro Evero looks for in his defensive backs. There are also a couple of depth spots available in the cornerback room for anyone who imposes themselves.
This was a confidence-boosting performance from Jackson. Nothing is guaranteed, but his chances of making the 53-man roster look better now than they did before Carolina's preseason opener that's for sure.
Loser No. 1
Terrace Marshall Jr. - Carolina Panthers WR
Terrace Marshall Jr. has once again shone at training camp. This is a common occurrence for the wide receiver. It's putting everything together in a typical game-day setting that represents the biggest stumbling block.
The Carolina Panthers started Marshall on the outside in Preseason Week 1. This was a chance for the LSU product to prove worthy of extended involvement when competitive action arrives. Unfortunately, there are more doubts than ever that he'll ever be capable of attaining these feats.
Marshall dropped a catchable ball early to dent his confidence. Conditions didn't make things easy for any pass-catcher, but the Panthers play in an outdoor stadium where players must be ready to produce in any climate. The former second-round pick telegraphed a route later on that was jumped, almost leading to an interception.
This was a step back for Marshall after accumulating some momentum this summer. The wideout's roster status remains precarious, especially considering the improvements made to the receiving corps throughout a frantic offseason for the franchise.
Winner No. 2
Eku Leota - Carolina Panthers
Opportunity knocks for those in the edge rushing room who perform accordingly. The Panthers aren't blessed with the greatest depth in this area of the field. A few places are up for grabs, so impressing throughout the preseason will form a huge part of general manager Dan Morgan's assessments before final cuts.
Eku Leota is an interesting case. The outside linebacker impressed last summer but didn't quite do enough to make the team. Being around the practice squad to continue his development helped, eventually featuring in 77 defensive snaps in 2023.
The former Auburn star seems to have brought his game on this offseason. Leota looked explosive and generated several pressures versus the New England Patriots. There was ruthless aggression and boundless energy during his time on the field, which is exactly what Morgan is looking to instill in his new-look roster.
This is a major boost for Leota, but complacency must not become an issue. If the player keeps this mindset for the remainder of camp and Carolina's next two preseason fixtures, he can expect to see his name on the initial 53-man roster when push comes to shove.
Loser No. 2
Jack Plummer - Carolina Panthers QB
With Bryce Young not participating and veteran backup Andy Dalton working his way back from a quad complication, the Carolina Panthers gave Jack Plummer a chance to showcase what he could potentially bring to the roster as the team's No. 3 quarterback. Nobody was expecting miracles, but it was hard to come away with anything other than disappointment.
Plummer looked like a rabbit in the headlights more often than not behind a woeful offensive line. He struggled to go through his progressions and adjust to the NFL speed. He made a couple of encouraging throws and the player's mobility sometimes impressed. It was largely underwhelming aside from that.
The well-traveled college quarterback completed 52.38 percent of his throws for 86 passing yards, no touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Plummer was sacked five times, secured a passer rating of 62.8, and gained four yards on the ground from two carries. This was not the first impression he wanted to make in pursuit of carving out some sort of role for himself.
Just how much time Plummer gets before being moved on remains to be seen. But it doesn't look like he's up to professional standards looking at this showing.
Winner No. 3
Alex Cook - Carolina Panthers S
Alex Cook quickly made a name for himself last season. The inexperienced safety earned the trust of defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and was even preferred to established veteran Jeremy Chinn when injuries began to impact the unit. He's benefitted greatly from this based on his efforts throughout the summer so far.
Cook's caught the eye consistently over Carolina's training camp. He's gone from an afterthought to a potential key member of the safety rotation along the way. The former undrafted free agent out of Washington boosted his hopes of achieving this feat thanks to a decent performance at the New England Patriots.
The defensive back was disciplined in coverage support on the backend and managed to assist close to the line of scrimmage against the run. With Sam Franklin Jr. set to miss considerable time with a broken foot, this seems like a ready-made replacement and potential upgrade behind the starting safety duo of Xavier Woods and Jordan Fuller.
This time of year is all about momentum. Cook has more of it than most and seems like a lock to make the 53-man roster currently.
Loser No. 3
Carolina Panthers OL
Second-year quarterback Bryce Young not being risked was a contentious issue among the fanbase. Many believe he needs to get some live-fire reps before Week 1 after how things unfolded during his rookie campaign. But if this was the offensive line head coach Dave Canales planned to deploy, it was the right call.
Expectations are high surrounding the starting five offensive linemen in 2024 after some hefty investments on the interior. Coaches and fans will be praying to the football gods they all remain healthy throughout if this showing by the backups is any indication.
One could argue Cade Mays and Brady Christensen were the only two to emerge with any credit. It was a lackluster performance from the unit, although signal-caller Jack Plummer didn't do them any favors by holding onto the football for too long.
This was a reality check. Dan Morgan won't hesitate to ring the changes with Carolina holding the No. 1 waiver priority, so a massive effort is needed from those who underperformed. Nothing else will do.
Winner No. 4
Jordan Matthews - Carolina Panthers TE
The Panthers have been banged up at the tight end position this summer. Complications for some open doors for others. Jordan Matthews is arguably the biggest beneficiary - something the former wide receiver is eager to capitalize on.
Matthews impressed the coaching staff over training camp with his work ethic and ability to produce. He's putting in the hard yards and it's paying off. The former second-round selection is making every rep and target count. This quickly became evident in Carolina's preseason defeat to the New England Patriots.
Catching all three of his receptions for 48 receiving yards was a big step in the right direction for Matthews. His experience and self-motivation are serving him well in pursuit of making the 53-man roster. If the Vanderbilt product builds on this positive momentum in the coming weeks, general manager Dan Morgan will have a hard time leaving him off the squad.
Expect to see Matthews heavily involved over the next two preseason games, especially with Tommy Tremble working his way back. Performing well is key, but everything is going according to plan for the veteran so far.