The New York Jets come to town Thursday for a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers ahead Saturday’s preseason matchup. With a good portion of the anticipated day-one starters resting during team’s first preseason game against the Patriots, an emphasis has been placed on tomorrow’s session as a barometer for where the team stands with a little over three weeks remaining before the first regular season game.
Here are three things we’ll be watching during the joint practice:
Where’s the Offense
The Carolina Panthers had the worst offense in the league last year and while an exponential leap isn’t expected, improvement is.
With the starters not getting any preseason game action so far, it’s been hard to gauge if the offense has taken a step forward. That changes Thursday.
Every joint practice the Panthers have participated in the last few years has been a precursor for what we could expect during the season. Against Indianapolis in 2021, New England in 2022, and the New York Jets in 2023, the Panthers offense struggled to move the ball down field. Those struggles carried over into the regular season.
At least three sustained drives on offense against a Jets’ defense that ranked second in passing yards and third in total yards allowed per game would not only show the team is headed in the right direction, but will also help instill confidence in 2nd year signal caller Bryce Young, who faced a lot of criticism during his rookie season. And while you’d also like to see those drives end in touchdowns, at this point, it’s more important to see the ball move down the field.
Trench Work
I stated above that the offense needs to put together at least three sustained drives. The ability to do that hinges directly on the offensive line’s ability to protect Bryce Young during pass plays and get a push during running plays.
That won’t be an easy task against the Jets. Their defensive line is considered one of the best in the league, featuring two Pro Bowlers in Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson II. Add to that an inspired Javon Kinlaw and the Panthers offensive line will have their hands full.
Dan Morgan made fortifying the interior of the offense line a priority this offseason, signing Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to lucrative contracts. With them is Taylor Moton, who is the most tenured lineman and has been the most consistent since being drafted in 2017. Once you get past those three there are a few questions.
Austin Corbett’s transition to center is a “non story” if you ask him, but it could quickly become one if he struggles Thursday. Add to that questions surrounding third year left tackle Ikem Ekwomu after a rough 2nd year campaign, and what the Panthers’ hoped would be a much-improved unit heading into the season could still be severely flawed.
If the offensive line can keep Bryce relatively clean and show strength in the run game, against a defensive unit as talented as the Jets, it would be a HUGE win for the home team.
Jaycee Island
There’s a reason why Aaron Rodgers is considered one of the best quarterbacks to ever do it. Rodgers can pick a part a defense with the best of them, but there’s a defender on the other side of the ball with something to prove.
Jets’ wide receiver Garrett Wilson amassed over 1000 yards in 2023, with out Aaron Rodgers and despite the Jets starting three different quarterbacks throughout the season. Wilson will undoubtedly be Panthers’ cornerback Jaycee Horn’s primary assignment.
Jaycee’s training camp battles with new wide receiver Dionte Johnson have been the most competitive and entertaining. I expect nothing less from the competition between Horn and Wilson.
This upcoming season is a big one for Jaycee. The Panthers’ exercised the 5th year option on him – keeping him under contract in Carolina through 2025. But if Horn, who has the potential to be one of the best cornerbacks in the league, wants to get a lucrative longterm deal he’s going to have stay healthy and be the corner who can shut down opponents’ top target. The road to proving that begins Thursday.
It’s still unknown if or how much preseason game action the Carolina’s starters will get, which makes Thursday’s joint practice even more important. Will we learn that the Panthers are taking a step forward or will concerns grow?
UNC Continues to Shine into the Final Stretch