Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales just made a massive call: his starters are sitting out Friday’s preseason finale against the Houston Texans. This isn’t some casual rest day, folks. Canales made this move right after what he bluntly called a “lopsided” joint practice with the Texans yesterday, and it sounds like he saw all he needed to see for the summer. He and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans reportedly chatted it up last night and decided the starters got their reps in the practice.
One “Lopsided” Practice Changes Everything
That Wednesday practice was apparently the whole ballgame. The first-team offense for Carolina didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Starting quarterback Bryce Young coughed up three turnovers and dodged what could have been “more than a handful” of sacks. Yikes. Canales said the starters got a whopping 75 percent of the snaps, which means they were out there long enough to show their stuff. While the unit did hit the end zone on their second drive in last Friday’s 34-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, that Wednesday session clearly overshadowed any good vibes. You can bet that “lopsided” performance is sticking in Canales’ mind.
Backups Get Their Shot After Rough Starter Showing
So, with Young sidelined and undrafted rookie Haynes King still nursing a hamstring injury, the reins are getting handed to Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask. It sounds like Trask is going to get the bulk of the work, and this is a huge chance for him. He’s actually looked pretty solid in his first two preseason appearances this summer, completing 10 of his 13 passing attempts for two touchdowns and just one interception. The twos and threes will be finishing it out for Carolina, and Canales sees it as a “great opportunity” for those guys to compete and show what they’ve got. You gotta love that fire from the coach, even if the reason for it is a bit concerning for the main squad.
This Friday’s game is more than just a preseason wrap-up for these Panthers backups. It’s a make-or-break moment for roster spots and showing the coaching staff what they can truly do under pressure. It’ll be interesting to see who steps up and if Trask can keep those good numbers rolling heading into the regular season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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