Panthers Fifth-Year Running Back Continues to Shine
The first game of the season was a rough one for the hopeful Carolina Panthers. In a make-or-break year for much of the team, they had an incredibly rough start. With a team as young as the Panthers, it is going to take time for them to gel. The Panthers have a lot of rookies and second-year players on the offense. The Panthers’ defense has been completely overhauled with many new players. Despite the rough start, Chuba Hubbard continues to be a star and a premier running back in the NFL.
Bryce Young had a very lackluster start, a far cry from his explosive finish to 2024. Young completed 18 passes for 154 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. The former Heisman winner's performance is not what I want to see. The team has been set up for Young to succeed, and I feel that this is his last year to prove himself.
Tetairoa McMillian had a great start to his NFL career. McMillian led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. There is no doubt that moving forward, McMillian is the guy in the receiving room. Hunter Renfrow and Xavier Legette both had disappointing games. They both had ample targets, both over five, but neither receiver was able to eclipse 12 receiving yards. My knee-jerk reaction is to dump this receiving room, but it is only the first game of the season. Top-tier receivers also don’t grow on trees. When a team possesses one, they rarely let them walk. So far, the receiving room is still lacking firepower, but we will see if that changes over the course of the season.
The defense continues to struggle against the run with Travis Etienne rushing for 143 yards, averaging 8.9 yards per carry. The Panthers have struggled with the run, but hit free agency hard to try to cover up their central defensive hole. The Panthers’ secondary continues to show out, with no giving up, only one receiving touchdown, and keeping a premier passing offense contained. No Jaguars receiver went for over 100 receiving yards, with no receiver eclipsing 60 receiving yards, and the team came up with an interception. All things considered, the defense played well but will need to address its run weakness to shine truly.
Finally, the central star of the show: Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard has been the lone bright spot of the Panthers' offense the past two seasons. Coming off of his first 1,000-yard rushing season, the former Oklahoma State running back looks to build off of his strong season. Against the Jaguars, Hubbard racked up 89 all-purpose yards and one receiving touchdown, the lone touchdown of the day. As the Panthers improve, Hubbard should be a key piece moving forward. With Hubbard being successful in the short yard game, he will be the key to opening up the passing game, but time will tell.
Overall, it was not a good showing for the Panthers. There is a lot to work on, especially in the passing game. The next few weeks will be crucial in the development of the time. Time is a factor, of course, with jobs on the line.
