The Carolina Panthers begin year two of the MorganCanales era as they travel south to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, September 7.
Carolina enters the season led by second-year head coach Dave Canales. The Panthers finished the 2024 season with a 5-12 record, good for third in the NFC South.
Jacksonville wrapped up the 2024 season with a 4-13 record, finishing third in the AFC South. Head Coach Liam Coen enters his first season at the helm for the Jaguars. Coen arrived in Jacksonville after spending the previous season as offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2024).
This will mark the ninth regular season matchup between the two clubs, with the series tied 4-4. The Panthers have the edge as of late, winning three of their last four against the Jaguars.
The Panthers will face the Jaguars to open the regular season for the third time in team history, the first time since 2015. Carolina has won both of their previous Week 1 matchups against Jacksonville.
The Matchup
About Carolina
- Since returning as the team’s starter in Week 8 against the Broncos, QB Bryce Young completed 197-of-319 passes (61.8%) for 2,104 yards with 15 touchdown passes and six interceptions, good for an 88.9 passer rating. His 16 completions of 25+ yards were the most in a 10-game stretch in his career. He also rushed 37 times for 223 yards and five touchdowns since Denver. In 2024, Young had 21 total touchdowns, a career-high. In six of the final nine games, he led the Panthers on game tying or winning drives.
- Despite missing the final two games of the season, RB Chuba Hubbard finished eighth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,195) in 2024. He also ranked third in yards after contact per rush (3.46), tied for ninth in rushing first downs (62), 10th in yards per carry (4.78), tied for 11th in carries (250), 13th in rushing touchdowns (10) and tied for 16th in rushes of 10+ yards (26). Hubbard also caught 43 passes for 171 yards with one touchdown.
- Among all rookies in 2024, WR Xavier Legette ranked eighth in catches (49) and receiving first downs (27), tied for eighth in receiving touchdowns (four) and ninth in receiving yards (497). His 49 receptions led all Panthers receivers. The 2024 first-round pick finished his rookie season ranked fourth all-time among Panthers rookies in catches, tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns and seventh in receiving yards.
- Depsite missing the final two games, fourth year CB Jaycee Horn notched career-highs in games played (15), total tackles (68), sacks (2.0), passes defensed (13), quarterback hits (two), and tackles for loss (five), while being named to the Pro Bowl.
- DE Derrick Brown appeared in one game during the 2024 season due to a knee injury that ended his year. Despite missing the majority of the 2024 season, he remains a cornerstone of Carolina’s defensive front. In 2023, Brown set an NFL record for the most tackles by a defensive lineman in a season (according to StatsPass, since 1994) with 103, surpassing. He also added seven tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits (career-high) and two sacks.
- S Tre’von Moehrig started all 17 games for the Raiders in 2024, tallying 104 tackles (64 solo) with 10 passes defensed, two interceptions returned 28 yards, five tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, two fumble recoveries and 1.0 sack. 2024 marked Moehrig’s first season with over 100 total tackles. Moehrig set career-highs in total tackles, solo tackles, passes defensed, quarterback hits, tackles for loss and fumble recoveries in 2024.
About Jacksonville
- QB Trevor Lawrence started 10 games in an injury-shortened 2024 season and completed 172-of-284 passes (60.6 percent) for 2,045 yards and 11 touchdowns for a passer rating of 85.2. Lawrence also rushed 26 times for 119 yards and three touchdowns. In franchise history, Lawrence ranks fourth in passing yards (13,815), pass completions (1,288) and touchdown passes (69).
- WR Brian Thomas Jr. finished his rookie campaign with 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 14.7 yards per catch. He set rookie franchise records in each category. His 10 receiving touchdowns are tied-second in single-season franchise history, while his 1,282 receiving yards are fifth-most and his 87 receptions are seventh-most.
- In 2024, TE Brenton Strange set career highs in receptions (40), receiving yards (411) and receiving touchdowns (two) in 2024. Strange registered seven receptions of 20-plus yards, tied for thirdmost in the AFC among tight ends. 17.5 percent of Strange’s receptions in 2024 gained over 20 yards, the second-highest percentage in the AFC among tight ends (min. 20 receptions).
- RB Travis Etienne Jr. rushed 150 times for 558 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games played in 2024. He also added 39 receptions for 254 yards. Since 2022, Etienne Jr.’s 2,691 rushing yards and 1,046 receiving yards are fifth in the AFC among running backs. In franchise history, Etienne Jr. ranks fourth in rushing yards (2,691) and tied-fifth in rushing touchdowns (18).
- DE Travon Walker finished the 2024 season with 61 tackles (31 solo), 15 quarterback hits, 13 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one 35-yard fumble recovery touchdown and one pass defensed. He set career highs in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles. Walker’s 10.5 sacks were tied-eighth most in the AFC in 2024. With 10.0 sacks in 2023 and 10.5 in 2024, this marked Walker’s second consecutive season with double-digit sacks.
- DE Josh Hines-Allen totaled 45 tackles (26 solo), 19 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 2024. His 8.0 sacks increased his career total to 53.0, making him the second player in franchise history to eclipse 50.0 career sacks and leaving him just 2.5 sacks away from breaking the franchise record currently held by DE Tony Brackens (55.0).
Connections
- Panthers WR Jimmy Horn Jr. (Sanford), CB Damarri Mathis (Lakeland), CB Corey Thornton (Miami), LB Claudin Cherelus (Golden Gate) and G Chandler Zavala (Boynton Beach) are from Florida. Pres. FB Ops/GM Dan Morgan went to high school in Coral Springs, Fla., and played collegiately at Miami (Fla.) (1997-2000). CB Mike Jackson (2015-18) and OLB D.J. Johnson (2017) also played at Miami (Fla.). RB Trevor Etienne (2022-23), OLB Princely Umanmielen (2020-23), DT Cam Jackson (2023-24) and QBs Will Harriger (2012-13, GA) spent time at Florida. Thornton (2020-23) and OLs Joe Gilbert (2004-06, OLs) spent time at Central Florida. Horn Jr. played two seasons at South Florida (2021-22). K Ryan Fitzgerald went to Florida State (2019-24).
- Jaguars WR Dyami Brown is from Charlotte, N.C., and played collegiately at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (2018-20). RB Travis Etienne Jr. played at Clemson (2017-20). RB Bhayshul Tuten started his college career at North Carolina A&T (2021-22). OC Grant Udinski played one season of college football at Davidson College (2014). OLs Shaun Sarrett (2008-11*) and OA Fred Walker (2018-19, OA) spent time at Duke University. aOL/RGS Keli’i Kekuewa (2015-16, GA) and OA Trevor Mendelson (2018-19, OGA) spent time at Wake Forest. aLBs Kevin Wilkins was a video assistant while in school at South Carolina.
Panthers vs Jaguars
All-Time Series: 8 matchups | Series is tied 4-4
Last Matchup: 12/31/23 | Carolina 0 at Jacksonville 26
Series Record in Jacksonville: 4 matchups | Jacksonville leads 3-1
How to Watch
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET FOX: Play by Play – Chris Meyers; Analyst – Mark Schlereth; Sideline – Jen Hale
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market –Play by Play – Anish Shroff; Analyst – Jake Delhomme; Analyst – Luke Kuechly; Sideline – Sharon Thorsland
Per Release