The Carolina Panthers couldn’t jump off the schneid on Saturday night—falling to the visiting New York Jets, 15-12, in their second preseason outing of the summer. But that doesn’t mean every Panther left the field with a big ol’ L.
Here are the six biggest winners from the exhibition:
RB Dillon Johnson
Johnson was the Panthers offense, as his game-high 83 rushing yards accounted for over half of the team’s output. Plus, his 2-yard touchdown as time expired was Carolina’s first visit to the end zone in their last four games.
The only touchdown of the game comes at the buzzer!
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— NFL (@NFL) August 18, 2024
Unfortunately for Johnson, his chances of making the initial 53-man roster are still essentially non-existent given how crowded the backfield is. But the undrafted rookie put together some eye-opening tape for a potential opportunity elsewhere.
WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
The fourth-year wideout followed up a productive (and pugnacious) practice against the Jets with a fine sample-sized outing. Marshall Jr. reeled in grabs of five and nine yards during the offense’s second possession, moving the chains on the latter.
Oh, and he didn’t show up the defense on his receptions either. So it may be safe to say that he played smart football this time around while vying for a regular-season spot in the team’s receivers room.
TE Ja’Tavion Sanders
Sanders led Carolina with 22 receiving yards on two catches. (Yes, the leading receiver accumulated just 22 yards.)
Anyway, the rookie looked solid on his pair of snags—utilizing his strong hands and, on his first, impressively absorbing a bit of contact from Jets cornerback Brandin Echols. This latest offering from Sanders is further proof that his development to this point is very encouraging.
Ja'Tavion Sanders loves the contact
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— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 17, 2024
DL T.J. Smith
Smith was one of two Panthers to record a sack in last week’s preseason opener. And on Saturday, he was one of one.
S Jammie Robinson
Robinson was all over the turf on Saturday night, racking up a game-high seven tackles. With the Panthers searching for depth in their secondary, especially after the recent injuries to cornerback Dane Jackson and safety Xavier Woods, last year’s fifth-rounder is making a case for himself.
S Demani Richardson
The undrafted rookie continued his defense’s stingy vibe from the past week, recording the only takeaway of the contest. Richardson picked off an overthrow from Jets quarterback and 2024 UFL MVP Adrian Martinez and ran the interception back for a 29-yard return.
Interception!
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— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 18, 2024
