Which Carolina Panthers news stories are hitting the headlines as attention starts turning to their Monday Night Football clash in Week 2?
The dust is beginning to settle on a bad start for the Carolina Panthers. It came as no surprise to see some moves made on Monday following such a tepid display, but whether it'll have the desired effect remains to be seen as preparations begin for what already looks to be a pivotal early season matchup against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.
There's just no telling what the atmosphere will be among the fans if the Panthers cannot get the job done. Until then, the stories accumulating column inches include Frank Reich's omission, Carolina's transactions, how Bryce Young can improve, and an update on Jaycee Horn's hamstring complication.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Carolina Panthers make transactions
Considering how general manager Scott Fitterer goes about his business, it wasn't exactly headline news to see a series of transactions in the immediate aftermath of such a disappointing loss to begin the campaign. The Carolina Panthers called up versatile swing tackle David Sharpe to their 53-man roster, which solidifies depth behind a starting unit that performed exceptionally at the Atlanta Falcons.
Veteran defensive lineman Chris Wormley was signed to the practice squad following a visit last week. Depth is a real issue on the defensive front, so the former Pittsburgh Steeler can no doubt assist from a rotational role once he gets familiar with Ejiro Evero's demands.
Linebacker Deion Jones is also back on the practice squad after not doing enough to make the initial 53-man roster. Cornerback Dicaprio Bootle is another addition, with Taylor Stallworth being removed from the equation.
Carolina Panthers CB Jaycee Horn's status
The last thing anyone associated with the Carolina Panthers wanted to see was stud cornerback Jaycee Horn going down with yet another injury. Those in power were relying heavily on the former first-round selection to produce the goods after no significant investment in this area of the field, so it falls into the worst-case scenario regarding their chances for progression under Frank Reich in 2023.
Considering how Horn fell on his own accord with no contact, the concerns were obvious. It was later revealed to be a hamstring injury rather than anything more serious, with head coach Frank Reich stating on Monday that the team is still assessing the severity before making a definitive timeline public.
Hamstring injuries typically come with a 2-8 week recovery based on the tear grade. Horn is also unlikely to be hitting the ground running over the first couple of weeks following his return, so this is a body blow in no uncertain terms.
The Panthers currently have Donte Jackson, C.J. Henderson, Troy Hill, undrafted free agent D'Shawn Jamison, and Jeremy Chinn as the big nickel as their coverage options within the secondary. That's not going to cut it, but whether there's someone via trade or looking for work that can come in and provide immediate assistance remains to be seen.
This also raises questions about why the Panthers didn't identify their cornerback unit as an area of need this offseason. Something they could pay for if Horn misses considerable time.
Carolina Panthers HC Frank Reich's omission
The Carolina Panthers just couldn't get anything going offensively in Week 1 at the Atlanta Falcons. There was no consistent separation secured by the wide receivers and although Bryce Young was well protected by the offensive line, turnovers and timing issues reared their head throughout the contest.
Young threw two picks - both to veteran safety Jessie Bates III. But when discussing the mistakes, head coach Frank Reich stated via USA Today Sports that the first error in judgment was largely his fault.
"I will say on the turnover—yesterday I mentioned to you guys it’s not always what you appear like. On the first interception, I put a lot of that interception on me. We got in a bad position. We got the OPI called, and then so we’re backed up. And then we get a delay of game call. And that delay of game was 100 percent on me. I had a miscommunication with Bryce. That miscommunication was 100 percent on me and it caused the delay of game. So, puts us even more backed up and put us in a bad position. So that one’s on me."Frank Reich via USA Today Sports
It's refreshing to see a head coach holding himself accountable in Carolina rather than throwing his players under the bus. Reich's play-calling came in for criticism among sections of the fanbase, but it's also worth remembering this is just one game and everything is still relatively new in terms of schematics, coaching, and across the playing staff.
Reich and the Panthers will get better as the campaign goes on. But improvements are needed quickly with the New Orleans Saints and the national spotlight coming to town on Monday night.
How Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young can improve
As previously stated, Bryce Young's competitive NFL debut went differently than planned. The Carolina Panthers mustered just 10 points at the Atlanta Falcons, with the quarterback throwing two interceptions and failing to generate any momentum behind a decent offensive line.
It's easy to overreact, but it's only one game. Upon examining the film, head coach Frank Reich stated via the team's website that the former Alabama star did a lot of nice things, although there is a need to improve certain decision-making aspects moving forward.
"I think he probably had three or four throwaways where he's not taking sacks – you know, we call the play, it wasn't there in the time it should be there, and he got rid of the football and threw it away. I thought that, over the long haul, that's going to help us as a team. It's going to help us stay in phase, and not take sacks; it's going to help him stay healthy. I thought he did a great job with that, and I thought he threw the ball accurately. We had the two interceptions, the one I don't put on him at all, the second was kind of a couple of different factors. Sure, can we all get better? Can I get better? Yeah, we can all get better. But I thought, overall, he played solid football."Frank Reich via Panthers.com
Young freely admitted that he needs to be more consistent in his distribution. It doesn't help that his wide receivers couldn't get open consistently, but the signal-caller carries the can and he'll find that out to his cost if things continue in this manner over the season.
Again, it's way too early to be pressing the panic button. Young has the intangibles to improve drastically and once the nerves settle down, the numbers should follow.