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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
With the starters and key backups resting in the preseason finale against Pittsburgh, the Panthers signed Bryce Perkins to carry the load. Andy Dalton was able to throw after last week’s elbow issue, which Canales described as a muscle strain rather than a serious injury. Perkins made an immediate impression, completing 10-of-11 passes for 71 yards and finishing with a 93.6 passer rating. Jack Plummer followed with 7-of-14 for 48 yards and a touchdown, but also another interception. The week reinforced the narrative we’ve seen all camp: Bryce Young is clearly the team’s leader, Dalton the secure backup, and the remaining quarterbacks fighting for depth. Young did not play in the finale, but his growth from last summer is evident. He’s sharper, faster in his reads, and increasingly comfortable with Canales’ offense. The Panthers appear likely to carry just two quarterbacks on the active roster, Young and Dalton. That leaves Plummer and Perkins competing for a practice squad or emergency role.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
The running back room has been a quiet but steady story throughout camp. Chuba Hubbard continues to lead the charge between the tackles, displaying patience, decisiveness, and burst when needed. In practice, he showed off all facets of his game, including a few long runs that beat Derrick Brown in traffic, and he even scored the final touchdown in the last session. Rico Dowdle has emerged as a dependable No. 2 option. He has been splitting reps with Hubbard and consistently demonstrating his ability to work through traffic. Rookie Trevor Etienne flashed explosiveness in the preseason finale, recording a 28-yard run, the longest of the Panthers’ preseason, and drawing praise from general manager Dan Morgan as a complementary, change-of-pace option. Etienne also impressed as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, adding versatility that makes the trio of Hubbard, Dowdle, and Etienne a balanced, three-pronged attack. Raheem Blackshear, once a candidate for return duties, appears increasingly at risk of losing that role and his roster spot to Etienne and Jimmy Horn Jr., who handled kickoffs in the finale.