The Reich era in Carolina begins, as the Panthers kick off the 2023 preseason in Bank of America Stadium against the visiting New York Jets.
Coach Reich comes to Carolina with more than 30 years of NFL experience as a player (1985-1998) and a coach (2006-present), including serving as the Panthers first starting quarterback and throwing the first touchdown pass in franchise history.
The Jets enter the season led by third-year head coach Robert Saleh. The Jets finished the 2022 season with a 7-10 record, finishing fourth in the AFC East.
This will be just the third time these two teams have clashed in the preseason and first matchup since 2012. The two teams have split the matchups, the Jets winning in 2010 and the Panthers taking home the victory in 2012.
The Matchup
About Carolina
- Defensive end Brian Burns has played in 64 career games. He ranks 2nd in franchise history in sacks through a player’s first 64 games, only trailing Julius Peppers (44.5 sacks, 2002-06) with 38.0 sacks. Burns finished the season tied for eighth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks and tied for seventh with 17 tackles for loss.
- Defensive tackle Derrick Brown’s 67 total tackles in 2022 tied Mike Rucker (2002) for the most tackles by a defensive lineman in franchise history (according to Stats Pass). His seven passes defensed is tied for the third most by a defensive lineman in franchise history (Greg Hardy-11, 2011).
- DJ Chark joins the Panthers after one season in Detroit (2022) where he compiled 502 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 30 receptions.
- Veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen comes to Carolina by way of free agency to embark on his 10th season in the NFL after spending the last nine seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (2014-2022).
- The veteran linebacker Justin Houston will enter his 13th season in the league now in a Carolina Panther uniform as the team agreed to terms with Houston in August. A four-time Pro Bowler (2012-15), Houston ranks fourth among active players with 111.5 career sacks, sixth with 182 quarterback hits and sixth with 129 tackles for loss.
- Number one overall draft pick Bryce Young played three seasons at Alabama (2020-22), appearing in 36 career games. He finished second in program history with 8,356 career passing yards and 80 passing touchdowns despite playing just three seasons for the Crimson Tide. Capped by the Heisman Trophy, in 2021, Young set the Alabama single-season marks for passing yards (4,872) and touchdowns (47). He also earned second team All-American and second team All-SEC honors in his final season with the Crimson Tide after throwing for 3,328 passing yards and 32 touchdowns.
About New York
- Since becoming head coach in 2021, Robert Saleh has posted a 5-1-1 record in the preseason, including two undefeated seasons (2021, 2022). Saleh is the only coach in franchise history to secure an undefeated preseason.
- During Thursday’s game at Cleveland, kicker Greg Zuerlein converted three field goals in the first half, including two from 50+ yards and one from 40+ yards.
- Quarterback Aaron Rodgers ranks fifth in NFL history in touchdown passes (475). Additionally, Rodgers is the only QB in NFL history with at least 55,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards and the only one with 500+ passes of 25+ yards and 5 100+ runs of 10+ yards (since 1994).
- All-Pro and Pro Bowl cornerback Sauce Gardner finished first in the NFL in passes defensed (20) last season, one of just six rookies since 2000 to record at least 20 passes defensed and the only rookie with at 1 least one pass defensed in his first seven games.
- Wide reciever Garret Wilson finished the 2022 season with 1,103 receiving yards, the 10th most among all rookie 10 receivers since 1970.
- First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl defensive lineman Quinnen Williams has recorded 27.5 sacks in his career, the 13 13th-most in franchise history.
Connections
- Panthers Head Coach Frank Reich is a native of Freeport, N.Y.
- Panthers WR Damiere Byrd is a native of Sicklerville, N.J. and went to Timber Creek HS.
- Panthers OL J.D. DiRenzo is a native of Hammonton, N.J. and attended St. Joseph Academy. DiRenzo went on to play college football at Rutgers in 2022.
- Panthers RB Raheem Blackshear played college football at Rutgers from 2017-2019.
- Jets Defensive Line Coach Aaron Whitecotton is a native of Charlotte, N.C.. He also attended North Carolina and played football at South Carolina from
2000-2001.
- Jets Assistant Defensive Line Coach Shaq Wilson played college football at South Carolina from 2008-2012.
- Jets WR TJ Luther played college football at Wofford from 2018-2021 and then played at Gardner Webb in 2021 as a graduate student.
- Jets RB Zonovan Knight is a native of Bailey, N.C. and attended Southern Nash HS. Knight went on to play college football at North Carolina State from 2019-2021.
- Jets LB Hamsah Nasirildeen is a native of Concord, N.C. and attended Concord HS.
- Jets LB Chazz Surratt is a native of Denver, N.C. and attended East Lincoln HS. Surratt went on to play college football at North Carolina from 2017-2020.
- Jets RB Michael Carter played college football at North Carolina from 2017-2020.
- Jets CB Michael Carter II played college football at Duke from 2017-2020.
- Jets G Laken Tomlinson played college football at Duke from 2010-2014
- Jets LS Thomas Hennessey played college football at Duke from 2012-2016.
- Jets TE EJ Jenkins played college football at South Carolina in 2021.
- Jets S Marquis Waters played college football at Duke from 2017-2020
Panthers vs Jets
All-Time Preseason Series: 2 total matchups | The series is tied 1-1
Last Preseason Game: 8/26/12 | Carolina 17 vs New York Jets 12
Series Record at Venue in Preseason: The New York Jets have won the only preseason matchup in Bank of America Stadium, defeating the Panthers 9-3 in 2010.
How to Watch
Kickoff:Â 4:00 p.m. ET Queen City News/WJZY (Local); NFL Network (National) – Taylor Zarzour (Play by Play), Steve Smith Sr. (Color), Carla Gebhart (Sideline)
Live Stream: Panthers.com
Radio:Â WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market – Anish Shroff (Play by Play), Kurt Coleman (Color), Jim Szoke (Color), Kevin Donnalley (Sideline)
Per Release
UNC Continues to Shine into the Final Stretch