Who were the big winners and losers from the Carolina Panthers' preseason defeat against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium?
It's over.
The Carolina Panthers went out with a proverbial whimper to conclude an underwhelming preseason schedule against the Detroit Lions at Bank of America Stadium. But so long as everything clicks during a pivotal divisional clash at the Atlanta Falcons to begin the 2023 campaign, nobody is going to care.
At all.
People are reading far too much into warmup games with almost no context attached whatsoever. But for the players involved, it was their last chance to stake claims before general manager Scott Fitterer and his staff begin trimming the fat to reach an initial 53-man roster.
On this topic, here are five winners and losers from Carolina's 2023 preseason finale reverse.
Winner No. 1
Spencer Brown - Carolina Panthers RB
With the Carolina Panthers erring on the side of caution with No. 1 running back Miles Sanders, others got the chance to step up and make one final impression. Perhaps the player who benefitted more than most from increased involvement was Spencer Brown, who's given those in power a lot to ponder after an outstanding preparation period overall.
Brown concluded his preseason by putting out more decent tape en route to 51 rushing yards and one touchdown from 13 carries. It does seem unlikely that the Panthers take more than three running backs onto their 53-man roster, but the former undrafted free agent couldn't have done any more.
And who knows, maybe his production this summer will be enough to make a team elsewhere.
Loser No. 1
Ian Thomas - Carolina Panthers TE
One could make a strong case that if Ian Thomas hadn't been given a three-year extension by the previous regime, he'd be off the Carolina Panthers already. While he did agree to take a pay cut after those in power brought Hayden Hurst into the fold via free agency, there's something missing in terms of pass-catching production where the former fourth-round selection out of Indiana is concerned.
This has been the case ever since the Panthers elevated Thomas to their primary tight-end option following Greg Olsen's departure in 2020. His blocking is the only thing keeping him around currently, which probably indicates he'll be on the 53-man roster when push comes to shove.
It's also clear that those occupying positions of power value Thomas much more than the fanbase, who've become tired of watching an underperforming individual with every physical attribute imaginable fail to meet expectations. His two catches for three receiving yards against the Detroit Lions told their own story.
What the future holds for Thomas is anyone's guess. He'll probably be Carolina's blocking tight end - although Hurst has no trouble in that discipline - but it'll be a huge surprise if he's heavily involved during what could potentially become his last season with the Panthers in 2023.
That might sound harsh. But Thomas brought this on himself by spurning every big opportunity in recent years.
Winner No. 2
Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers QB
It was a relatively small sample size from quarterback Bryce Young once again, but he was nothing short of sensational. Something that's only raised expectancy levels heading into his first season in a professional environment.
The Carolina Panthers believed Young was a genuine franchise changer at football's most prestigious position. That's why they traded up to No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft to secure his services and it's why those in power made him QB1 after just a few short weeks of early workouts.
There's something special about Young on and off the field. The timing of his throws, poise in the pocket, ability to conjure up yards on the move, and elite-level processing have been evident throughout the preseason, which didn't slow down against the Detroit Lions during two-straight scoring drives.
Young took the Panthers downfield for an opening field goal to begin proceedings. He followed this up with his first NFL touchdown - an absolute dart to veteran wideout Adam Thielen that drew widespread plaudits from fans and media alike
That was all she wrote for Young in Preseason Week 3, but his impact was felt in no uncertain terms. With a more expansive offensive scheme and full involvement when the regular season arrives, there's just no telling what the former Alabama star might be able to accomplish under the expert leadership of Frank Reich.
Loser No. 2
Camerun Peoples - Carolina Panthers RB
There was some excitement this week after assistant head coach Duce Staley revealed that Camerun Peoples would be getting carries in the final Carolina Panthers preseason game. This was the big opportunity he'd been waiting for after becoming a relative afterthought compared to others within the running back room.
The Appalachian State product is a fan favorite thanks in no small part to his college exploits. But you only get one chance to make a good first impression - something he was unable to accomplish.
Peoples fumbled on his very first carry in an NFL game-day setting. To say this was a disaster would be an understatement and it didn't get much better after that en route to four rushing yards from as many carries.
The undrafted free agent did manage 24 receiving yards from two receptions. But considering Caroina's top three options at the position and Spencer Brown's performances throughout the offseason, even a place on the practice squad might be out of reach when push comes to shove.
This is an unfortunate situation for Peoples, but one that's commonplace around the NFL right now. His dreams are likely to be crushed in the near future and if nobody else comes calling, moving to the XFL or USFL remains the most likely course of action in the hope it can lead to another chance further down the line.
Winner No. 3
Adam Thielen - Carolina Panthers WR
The Carolina Panthers are currently dealing with some injury concerns within their wide receiver room. Terrace Marsall Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr., and D.J. Chark are all on the shelf, which meant it was vital Adam Thielen picked up the slack during their preseason finale against the Detroit Lions.
Thielen knew exactly what the mission was given his experience. The free-agent signing from the Minnesota Vikings duly delivered with a superb display en route to four receptions, 45 receiving yards, and a touchdown that provided further evidence about what he could bring to the Panthers next season.
The route-running crispness at Thielen's disposal is a sight to behold. His ball skills are first-class, he catches superbly under pressure and remains a significant red-zone threat as demonstrated by his touchdown grab from Bryce Young.
While asking Thielen to be a genuine No. 1 option this late into his career would be pushing it, there's nothing to suggest he cannot assume a secondary role behind someone else providing the Panthers get one of their young studs to step up. However, the jury remains out in that regard due to health and previous inconsistencies.
There's no doubt Thielen is as dependable as they come and will be Young's best friend in key situations throughout the campaign. Whether the signal-caller will be able to depend on the rest is a completely different question entirely.