RSS Panthers Team Notes

[Carolina Panthers]

5 questions with Canal Street Chronicles

The Carolina Panthers, who are currently in first place in the NFC South, have a tough gauntlet ahead of them if they want to make the playoffs this year. That gauntlet starts with not-to-be-overlooked New Orleans Saints. Never mind their 3-10 record. They are a team with a surprisingly talented young quarterback, Tyler Shough, who is being guided by one of the better offensive minds in football today in head coach Kellen Moore. Their defense has quietly become one of the better defenses in the league over the last few weeks.

Are they eliminated from the playoffs? Yes. Would they be happy to spoil the Panthers season just for kicks? Also yes. Here to answer some questions about this weird opponent is Nic Jennings from Canal Street Chronicles. Read on to see how Saints fans see their team and this matchup in Week 15.

So, Tyler Shough. Are you a believer?

Absolutely. Tyler Shough has shown more than enough promise to have fans excited for his future development. After beating the top two teams in the division on the road, while also making some remarkably difficult throws and escaping the pocket to extend plays with his legs, Shough has taken the media by storm.

Obviously, there’s still plenty of room for improvement, but the rookie has at least earned the opportunity to start for the Saints in 2026 and even strengthens my belief that New Orleans should pass on a QB in the upcoming NFL draft.

With Olave and Kamara battling injuries and Shaheed traded away, what does the Saints passing game look like now?

Chris Olave has been playing through back spasms, yet he’s still been a crucial part of the passing game, along with Devaughn Vele, who has really started to break out over the past couple of games and is seemingly building strong chemistry with Tyler Shough. Juwan Johnson also continues to be Shough’s safety blanket and is quietly putting together a career year.

When it comes to stretching the field after the departure of Rashid Shaheed, a guy to watch is Mason Tipton, who is an explosive play waiting to happen. Expect to see a lot of Olave and Vele, but keep an eye on Tipton.

New Orleans has quietly pulled together a monster defense in the last half of the season. What has changed and what is their strength?

I think it just took a little time for Brandon Staley to find his groove in New Orleans. You saw something similar during his time as the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator.

Another big factor is when Chase Young made his season debut in Week 6. Through eight games, he is tied for the team lead with six sacks and has generated the second-most pressures on the team with 27, while posting an 82.6 pass-rush grade on the season. It has taken a lot of attention away from guys like Carl Granderson and Cam Jordan—with Jordan turning back the clock for four sacks in his last four games. And while Granderson has been in a sack drought, he’s still been productive in the run game.

Y’all helped the Panthers playoff chances last Sunday by upsetting the Bucs. Do New Orleans fans have a favorite horse in the NFC South race?

Absolutely not. But as long as it isn’t the Falcons, the Who Dat Nation can live with it. If anything, there’s been a slight satisfaction in making life harder for the rest of the division. New Orleans might be out of the race, but they can still make sure their division rivals don’t breathe easy.

What’s your prediction for Sunday against the Panthers?

With the confidence Tyler Shough and the defense are playing with right now, I’m hoping New Orleans can make the path to a division title even more difficult for Carolina on Sunday. I’ll take the Saints, 20-14. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it go the other way.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...7253/5-questions-with-canal-street-chronicles

 

[Carolina Panthers]

CSR Weekend Warriors: 12/12-12/14

Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/the-scratching-post/57267/csr-weekend-warriors-12-12-12-14

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Panthers Injury Report & Transactions – Week 15

The Carolina Panthers front office is busy throughout the season with transactions, roster moves, and injury updates. Here’s what’s happening at Mint Street this week.

Injuries​

Believe it or not, the 7-6 Carolina Panthers currently sit atop the NFC South standings thanks to the shocking come from behind win the Atlanta Falcons had over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night. The Panthers head on the road to face a struggling 3-10 New Orleans Saints squad in a game that can go long way toward punching Carolina’s ticket to the playoffs should the Panthers emerge victorious.

Health, as always, plays a big role in the final score. As of Friday’s injury report, the Panthers are looking very healthy going in to Week 15. Cornerback Jaycee Horn and linebacker Claudin Cherelus were both limited in practice on Wednesday, but were full participants on Thursday and Friday.

As of now, the only player with a question mark about his availability is center Cade Mays, who is showing he may have missed Friday’s practice (or not?) with the designation as “unspecified”. He missed the Panthers last two games with an ankle injury, but was a full participant in practices earlier in the week.

Transactions​

It looks like the Panthers front office is doing the same as many of the rest of us do in our jobs as the calendar flips to December, which is to start coasting and gently ease in to the beloved downtime of Christmas and New Year’s. As such, there have been zero transactions coming from Mint Street this week. No movement on the practice squad. No signings, no releases, no reports of players being elevated to the 53-man roster.

Nada.

So, this week we are going to quickly profile the four rookies on the Panthers practice squad who have largely flown under the radar this year. They are:

Mapalo Mwansa, linebacker. Mwansa joined the Panthers this year from England as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway. He has a pretty cool backstory, including learning about American football by watching “Last Chance U” on Netflix. He’s obviously a raw prospect and has yet to appear in a game for the Panthers this season.

Bryce Pierre, tight end. Pierre spent two years at Arizona State before transferring to UCLA for one season in 2024. His college receiving stats were less than impressive with 28 receptions for 233 yards and zero touchdowns in 23 college games. But the 6-foot-5, 255-pound prospect showed enough to land with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent this year.

Ja’seem Reed, wide receiver. Reed might have played at a small school (University of San Diego), but at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds he’s plenty big for the NFL. During his final season at San Diego he had 77 receptions for 1,052 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Anthony Tyus III, running back. Tyus is a relatively new addition to the practice squad after signing with the Panthers on October 1st. His rookie season has been the ping pong life many UDFAs face as he first signed with the Detroit Lions in April, the joined the Seattle Seahawks in July, was released during final roster cuts, then signed with the Panthers.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...6/panthers-injury-report-transactions-week-15

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Brian Answers: Which Bryce Young do we get this weekend?

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We’re back from the bye week, and all week we’ve talked about Bryce Young’s future on this website. But guess what? This season is not over! And near term Bryce Young is more important. So let’s dive in to all YOUR questions from this week!

HighMiles25: Will we follow 2025 tradition and lose to the Saints, beat the Bucs, lose to the Seahawks, and beat the Bucs?

It wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility, honestly. The Saints seem to have figured out a solid game plan against the Panthers offense, though in this scenario the Panthers have a bit more game tape on the Tyler Shough run offense. The Buccaneers don’t seem to want to win the division, so following the rollercoaster loss-win-loss-win formula would just be uniquely Panthers.

Panther-Try: If we make the playoffs, it seems we will most likely play someone from the nfc west. Which NFC West opponent would we want to play in the playoffs?

While we haven’t yet seen the Panthers take on the Seahawks yet, my bet would actually be on them if the Panthers could somehow pull out a wild card win. My main reasoning here is that Sam Darnold seems like he might be turning into a pumpkin again, and the Panthers do have a decent group of corners in Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson who might be able to slow down Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the passing game. The Seahawks defense is really good, so there’s not really any one particular opponent I personally prefer. One might be able to argue the 49ers in a rematch could be a better option, simply because the Panthers would have a better idea of what Kyle Shanahan and the coaches would throw at them.

KeepPounding88: How do I get over this fear that winning the division will cause us to extend Young? I know it wouldn’t happen this offseason, I just feel like it would be enough momentum to pick up his option with the expectation of eventually working on an extension.

This question got asked fairly early in the week, so you can read additional analysis by Jon here and Eric here, so I will try not to rehash too much, go check out their work and the subsequent comments.

My take is, I wouldn’t worry about the Panthers giving Bryce Young an extension barring a miraculous Super Bowl appearance. My read on Bryce is he’s not the type to push for an extension that early, and I know he’s definitely beaten himself up a lot over some of his worst performances. I think the Panthers will eventually pull the trigger on the 5th year option ahead of the deadline (which is after the NFL Draft) in 2026. But I think the expectation should be to pick up the option, give Canales and this staff another year to try and improve the overall roster, and potentially start those conversations in 2027 if all continues in a positive direction. So while I get the anxiety around giving Bryce a ton of money to be their starters going into the future, we can likely table that discussion until the 2027 Offseason.

Randallpink11: We have meaningful football in December and we control our own destiny. How freegan fun is this, Brian?!?!? Do you find yourself smiling and wiggling a little more today than normal?

It has been certainly an interesting season from my standpoint. Here in Eagles/Steelers country where I live, it’s nice to talk about the Panthers having a realistic chance and outside fans actually paying some attention to the team for once. As a conditioned endurer of pain, I am still quietly expecting the wheels to fall off. But the fact that I haven’t completely resigned myself to failure at this point in the season is in itself, an accomplishment for this franchise.

Irishboy: I see some TV pundits believe that after beating the Rams, we have turned a corner and will display more consistency. I however, do not support this, or evidence does not support this as we lost a bad game to the 49ers just 2 games ago. If NO stops the run game on Sunday like the first game, are we doomed or will Bryce play a good game? What will it take to establish more consistency on this offence, apart from Bryce being the obvious?

I still find the Rams game to be an interesting scenario. While Bryce Young and the passing offense came through in the biggest moments when needed, I think that game was more about the Panthers being aggressive and capitalizing on the Rams mistakes, which has been their bread and butter for stealing wins they likely shouldn’t get. The first Saints game actually followed the same formula, unfortunately that time to the Panthers detriment. The Saints will likely employ the same rushing focused defense, with 3 deep DBs for most of the game again. This time though, I think Dave Canales can and should attack in the passing game, and should be confident in Bryce to execute. He now has a better idea of what the Saints will throw at them. Winning in New Orleans is never easy, regardless of how bad the Saints are. But this would be the game for Bryce Young to have ice in his veins, and throw some dimes when they are needed.

@WTMealey: Has the design team for the Panthers started a rough draft of the divsion champ t-shirts yet? Can they put a roller coaster on it?

Bryce Young, wearing a grim reaper cloak, and the severed heads of the Cowboys, Packers, Rams, and hopefully Buccaneers in tow on a roller coaster would be a t-shirt I would buy without hesitation.

sgtx: Real Christmas tree or fake tree?

My tradition for years was always to put a printed out PDF of a Christmas tree on a thumbtack against a wall. But I am in the fake tree area. Just a lot less hassle, especially if you have cats.

Bull123: is 2-2 with a single win against the bucs gonna do it?

As I am writing this the night before, its 14-13 Falcons against the Bucs on Thursday Night Football. When that game resolves, the answer will be more clear. Sound off below in the comments with the playoff scenarios when this publishes. But it seems plausible.

That’s all for this week, Panthers fans! Enjoy game 2 against those lowly Saints, and KEEP POUNDING!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...wers-which-bryce-young-do-we-get-this-weekend

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Reacts Results: Playoff hopes building amongst Panthers fans

Fans of the Carolina Panthers are treading new ground as their favorite team flirts with the NFC South division title—and a 2025 playoff berth—for the first time since Ron Rivera was the head coach. A winning season, a playoff game, and renewed hope in Bryce Young top holiday wish-lists around the Carolinas. But there is a difference between wishing and believing.

Only 59% of Panthers fans believe that Carolina is heading to the playoffs. Now, for the record, this question was asked and the poll closed before the Atlanta Falcons upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to give the 7-6 Panthers sole possession of first place in the NFC South race. I really did not expect the Bucs to fall apart so spectacularly and so figured this was a safe question. It is probably safe to assume that the 59% figure is higher now.

What’s most encouraging is that being on the doorstep of unexpected success hasn’t necessarily changed the minds of most Panthers fans about their team’s current status. 89% if fans are confident in the direction they are headed, meaning at least 30% of fans feel optimistic about the future even if the Panthers miss the playoffs this year.

How about it, Panthers fans? Are you more confident now in the Panthers playoffs chances? Chime in now before whatever chaos occurs in the New Orleans game this afternoon changes all of our opinions once again.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...-playoff-hopes-building-amongst-panthers-fans

 

[Carolina Panthers]

The Optimist: Yeah, that happened

I gave strong consideration to just publishing a gif of Lucy pulling up the football today. I’m far from the only person who considered that in the Panthers sphere and I’m far from the only fan who feels like that today. Tyler Shough stepped up again, Jaycee Horn fell down again, and Bryce Young failed to make an impact again en route to another momentous loss for the Carolina Panthers.

Panthers have lost 12 straight games when they were favored.

Do you know what that means?

That means EVERY TIME for the past 4 years when fans were feeling hopeful, felt like the team was headed in the right direction, felt like they could expect a positive outcome, they lose pic.twitter.com/YGbNEvv0F9

— Josh Klein (@joshkleinrules) December 15, 2025

What I liked. . .​

This is going to be a short section today. The Panthers have lost a league-leading seven consecutive games in which they have been favored, stretching back to 2021. Today sucks, but yesterday isn’t a full picture of who the Carolina Panthers are right now. It is a reminder of what they are rebuilding from, not a condemnation of the rebuilding process they are still very much in.

Jalen Coker – Extremely Optimistic​

The kid knows how to get open, he’s quick, and he’s a major contributor in the running game as a blocker. He’s everything you want to see as a wide receiver and should give future Panthers quarterbacks plenty to work with between himself and the recently absent Tetairoa McMillan.

Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle – Somewhat Optimistic​

The Panthers finally have both of their tailbacks running with burst and violence behind a relatively healthy offensive line. Dave Canales also seems to have finally sorted out a more effective rotation than “by series.” This is your only source of offensive hope against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who don’t have nearly as stout of a defense, somehow, as the Saints do.

Chau Smith-Wade’s strategic penalty​

A pre-snap penalty by Smith-Wade erased an early fourth quarter field goal by the Saints and, ultimately, lured them into a turnover on downs. This was going to be a hilarious sequence in a narrow victory right up until the Panthers only gained 11 yards and zero points in the rest of the game against the Saints’ 140 yards and ten points.

Still, this is a silly place and we do celebrate silly things. Everybody give a half-hearted huzzah.

What I didn’t like. . .​

It’s hard to pick favorites here, because boy, howdy, I didn’t like much of anything last night. So let’s pick only on the major things that led to the loss.

4th & inches​

Canales has come a long way as a situational play caller since the start of the season, but this was another clear failure of both process, design, and roster. Not going for the field goal in a low scoring game was a mistake. A hand off up the middle was a mistake.

Let’s pretend to accept that a quarterback sneak was not viable with the Panthers quarterback and even further pretend that such a weakness was a contributing factor to the team’s loss, it is just plain stupid to run into the teeth of a bunched up defensive formation in a high leverage situation. If you want a play that takes longer to develop than a QB sneak then run a roll out pass, a stretch play, even a flea-flicker. Take advantage of the defense’s compressed formation.

I still like Canales overall, but not taking points after an 11-play, 32-yard, six minute drive in this tight of a game was a critical mistake.

Bryce Young​

Canales finally stuck to the script that was supposed to allow Young to thrive. They based themselves on a relatively successful running game that kept them ahead of the sticks on most drives in the first half. However, the Panthers only scored a touchdown on one drive where they fell behind the sticks. That was Young’s beautiful 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker on second and 11. It was also Young’s only passing highlight.

Stepping up and finding success once per game is not going to cut it. The Panthers are technically still in the hunt for the playoffs. There are even decent odds they can make them, given the current state of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There is absolutely no way that they can do anything once they are there with this standard of quarterback play.

Young may be admirable for his ability to keep a level head despite his ups and downs. Plenty of players are unable to do that. Plenty of players are also able to be successful at their jobs in spite of their emotions, and the one thing Young cannot be described as is successful.

This was a game without an obvious mistake from Young. He had zero turnovers. He still led an offense that was 7/14 on third down and scored on fewer than half of their possessions. Every failed Panthers possession yesterday fell apart because of Young’s inability or unwillingness to complete routine passes downfield or even past the sticks in short yardage situations. Either is damning.

Even if he picks up his production in the final three weeks, the Panthers need to look hard into competitive options at quarterback for 2026.

What’s next?​

The Panthers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks at home in back-to-back weeks. The NFC South title is still up for grabs and neither of the two contenders look like they want it. Both are 2-2 in the division and the title will come down to whoever wins the series between the Panthers and the Bucs.

The Panthers won’t be favored in either of their remaining home games, which gives them their best chance at winning them. What will actually happen and which Panthers team will show up is anybody’s guess at this point.

Let’s all take a deep breath and wait to see what happens this week. There are only three weeks left in the season and I guarantee you the Panthers will confound at least some of our expectations. Look for them to fall somewhere in the middle between the team that beat the Rams and the one that got swept by the Saints.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...results/57308/the-optimist-yeah-that-happened

 

[Carolina Panthers]

The Scratching Post: 12/15-12/19

Greetings, internet users. Welcome to The Scratching Post.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/the-scratching-post/57304/the-scratching-post-12-15-12-19

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints opening odds in NFC South rematch

The Carolina Panthers are poised to break two NFL records over the next year of football. First, they have the longest active streak of losses as a favorite with twelve over the past four seasons. The NFL record is 14 such losses. Odds are Carolina won’t be favored in any games going forwards this season, so this streak will have the opportunity to extend into 2026. Second, they have won seven games as an underdog this season. The NFL record is eight, meaning that the Panthers will the opportunity to tie it this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Week 16​

Spread​

Buccaneers: -2.5 (-118)

Panthers: +2.5 (-104)

O/U​

45.5 (-118/-104)

Moneyline​

Buccaneers: -148

Panthers: +126

This is comical at this point, but it is what it is. The Carolina Panthers are agents of chaos that are determined to play with their food. Their food, to be clear, is us. Betting on them at this point is a personal journey that is above analysis and logic. Make peace with your own finances and loved ones before proceeding. That goes for betting for or against them.

The above odds were current as of the writing of this post. You can take a look at—and place a bet on—live odds for this game and more here at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...eans-saints-opening-odds-in-nfc-south-rematch

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Panthers vs Saints game review: Losing the shine

The version of you that took a critical eye to the composition of the Carolina Panthers in August would have considered their current place in the standings and the opportunity ahead of them in the final 3 weeks an unequivocal victory. A step forward for a team that desperately needed to move in the right direction.

But right now, coping with yet another moment where Lucy has pulled the football up at the last second, it’s hard to not want to set fire to everything. Frustration takes over for some, apathy sets in for many more.

It’s not a secret that the Panthers organization is littered with youth on the roster and in the coaching staff. But now, the shine is starting to wear off and all that’s left is what’s underneath the luster. The edges start looking a little rough and all the little imperfections that may have always been there underneath the surface start to come through and stand out with each passing day.

Against the Saints, it seems like a magnifying glass is being taken to these flaws. Examining the type of moment that the Panthers had shined in the past and being critical of the failure to execute that begat their second loss of the season to a bitter rival.

For this week’s game review, let’s look through that magnifying glass together and examine exactly where the veneer has worn off.

Secondary miscues​

Unnecessary and ill-timed penalties, breakdowns in communications, missed assignments, lost one-on-ones, missed turnovers – the list goes on. It was an unfortunate day for the secondary, who for the second time this season succumbed to the moment and face-planted versus the New Orleans Saints. No moment lower than their performance in the 4th quarter. The Saints had the ball to start the drive down 7 points with 4 minutes and 37 seconds left. Then, proceeded to give up a receptions of 17, 18, 16 and finally 12 yards for touchdown all to Chris Olave in a single drive. Followed up by allowing a 62 yard drive that started at the 9 yard line with less than a minute to go to give up the game winning field goal. All aided by a 15 yard unnecessary roughness penalty by rookie safety Lathan Ransom that was just the icing on the cake for an already brutal stretch.

#Panthers HC Dave Canales said the communication was disjointed on the back end throughout the Chris Olave drive (4 catches for 63 yards and a TD) on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/zrSaDfpAmJ

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) December 15, 2025

Tetairoa McMillan hit the rookie wall​

After a hot start to the season, McMillan’s last 3 games have been his 3 lowest reception totals of the season, not eclipsing more than 2 receptions in the trio of outings. Hs last two games being his least targeted games of the season as well. Included on McMillan’s disappointing stat line on Sunday was a potential touchdown that hit his hands and fell to the turf. A tougher catch than it needed to be based on his leverage on the defensive back and the poor placement of the football by Bryce Young… but a ball the young receiver should be expected to start holding onto as his career continues.

There has been a lot of discussion around this play involving Tetairoa McMillan of the Carolina Panthers. Rather than debate it, here is the full sequence showing the throw, the catch attempt, and the moment in question. As always, our photographer is in position to capture the… pic.twitter.com/WydtdzUtsJ

— CharlotteVibe (@charlottevibe) December 15, 2025

4th down creativity​

Creativity has served the Panthers well on 4th down so far, but lack of fundamental execution and ability to operate the plays that are the bedrock of the sport will continue to haunt them. I’ve appreciated the aggressiveness on 4th down, even praised the conviction in the quarterback to have the stones to put in his hands to make a big play happen against the hottest team in the NFL. But when there are just inches left to get a first down, and the whole league being enamored with the tush-push, it’s painful to feel like the play-caller needs to dig deep into the bag of tricks. Sometimes, it might be nice to be able to reach into the tool box and pull out ol’ reliable. To not make it complicated and line-up for a QB sneak – even using a tight end for all anyone cares since the physics aren’t exactly in favor of the Panthers QB1.

To Whom it May Concern Within the Carolina Panthers,

Can you please install a sneak package so @JoshNorris can watch your games without getting agitated?

Sincerely,
UD Football Show pic.twitter.com/eSl98ZHDnZ

— Underdog Fantasy – Josh & Hayden (@UDFootballShow) December 15, 2025

Are there more areas the Panthers fell short? Plenty. At some point, a team that was running hot in crucial situations all season was bound to regress back to the mean at some point. Let’s hope that when the division is up for grabs against the Tampa Buccaneers on Sunday, they look a little more polished.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...ne-bryce-young-dave-canales-tetairoa-mcmillan

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Carolina Panthers 2026 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Kenyon Sadiq

Even though the 2025 NFL season just started, it’s never too early to look ahead toward the 2026 NFL Draft. This weekly series will take a closer look at some of the prospects the Carolina Panthers could select in the 2026 iteration of the Draft. In this series, we’ll only be looking at prospects the Panthers could seriously consider. This week our profile will focus on Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq.

Bio​

Sadiq was a four star recruit and Idaho’s Player of the Year as a senior in high school. He managed to see the field as a true freshman with the Ducks in 2023, though he was mostly relegated to special teams at that point. With former starter Jake Ferguson now in the NFL, Sadiq managed to shine this season, hauling in 40 catches for 490 yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers made him a finalist for the Mackey Award (top tight end in the nation), though he ended up finishing second to Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers.

Strengths/Weaknesses​

Kenyon Sadiq’s main strengths are his physical attributes. He is 6’3”, 250 lbs and has elite straight line speed. The speed and explosiveness show up on tape, too, as he is able to leap over defenders and make insane acrobatic catches. Sadiq also consistently catches with his hands which, combined with his strength and spatial awareness, makes him a safe bet in contested catch situations. He is a competitive and willing blocker and has experience lining up all over the formation. He even ran the ball three times for the Ducks this year, further showcasing his versatility.

While Sadiq does not shy away from contact, he can occasionally get out muscled at the line of scrimmage. This could limit his ability to be an inline tight end at the next level. Stronger defenders can jam him at the line of scrimmage on pass plays and bully him on run plays. That, combined with his inconsistent run blocking technique could lead some teams to drop him a bit on their boards.

Projection​

Sadiq will likely be a first round selection in April’s Draft. Where he ends up falling is a topic of debate, with his projection ranging anywhere from top ten to end of the first round. The success of Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, and former Duck Jake Ferguson could lead teams into investing in the tight end position earlier in the Draft than in years past.

Despite the Panthers defense having the majority of spots for upgrades this offseason, Dan Morgan and Dave Canales have shown that they are not afraid to continue investing top picks on the offensive side of the ball by taking Tetairoa McMillan last year. That selection has worked out quite well so far for the Panthers, and the team currently lacks a definitive number one tight end. While Mitchell Evans has shown flashes, JT Sanders has regressed a bit this year, and Tommy Tremble is not a deep receiving threat from the tight end spot. Sadiq would provide the tight end room with another weapon that could truly help unlock the offense.

What do you think, Panthers fans? If Kenyon Sadiq is available when the Panthers select in the 2026 NFL Draft, should they take him? Sound off in the comments!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...-2026-nfl-draft-prospect-profile-kenyon-sadiq

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Three key offensive players miss practice on Wednesday

The Carolina Panthers released their first injury report of the week, and there are a few notable names on it.

• Ikem Ekwonu – DNP (knee)
• Damien Lewis – DNP (illness)
• Tetairoa McMillan – DNP (ankle)
• Tershawn Wharton – DNP (hamstring)
• Taylor Moton – LP (back)
• Jaycee Horn – LP (rest)
• David Moore – FP (elbow)
• Trevin Wallace – FP (shoulder)

Ekwonu was vague about the nature of his knee issue, but he said he considers himself day to day. Lewis is dealing with an illness, and assuming it’s something minor, there’s a decent chance both are able to give it a go against the Buccaneers on Sunday. Same goes for McMillan, who doesn’t seem to be dealing with anything major in regards to his ankle.

Other than that, it’s a mostly clean injury report. Wharton is still recovering from the hamstring strain he suffered tripping over a teammate’s foot in walkthrough on Saturday. Jaycee Horn and Taylor Moton should be safe bets to play on Sunday after limited practices. Trevin Wallace has been playing through a shoulder injury that is going to continue landing him on the injury report, but he’s clearly good to play through it. Moore is back at practice after he dislocated it in Week 4.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...-offensive-players-miss-practice-on-wednesday

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Panthers vs Buccaneers: Offensive Preview

We all should have seen last week coming. If there’s one thing that’s predictable about this Carolina Panthers team, it’s that they’re remarkably consistent with their inconsistency. They play poorly when you think they’ll play well. They play well when you think there’s no chance they do so. That makes this week kind of tough to predict, because there are plenty of reasons to justify both positive and negative expectations.

On the positive side. the Buccaneers are flailing. They’ve lost five of their last six and have allowed 31.8 points per game in the five losses. They’re coming off back to back home losses to the Falcons and Saints. Now they go on the road to take on a Panthers team that is significantly better within the walls of Bank of America Stadium. Based on all of those things, the Panthers are going to lay an egg.

On the other hand, a win on Sunday puts the Panthers in the driver’s seat for the NFC South Championship. They’re coming off a loss to the lowly Saints and looked pretty uninspired on offense. They’ve made a living on narrow wins this season, and that close game luck turned on them last week. This is not a spot where the Panthers typically come through for us. Based on all those things, the Panthers are going to light up the Buccaneers.

So we truly have no idea what’s going to happen, and I give up on trying to assume whether the Panthers are going to have a good or bad game based on the match-up. But we’ll still look at the keys to a successful game. Here they are.

• Bryce Young needs to have one of those good games. All of the Bucs recent losses have featured big games from the opposing quarterback. Kirk Cousins lit this defense up for 373 yards. Tyler Shough didn’t generate as much yardage through the air in wet conditions the week prior, but he ran for 55 yards and two touchdowns. Matthew Stafford and Josh Allen put up monster stat lines in the weeks prior while running up the score on Tampa. Even Jacoby Brissett put up 300 yards in a losing effort. Young has only had one truly prolific passing day this season. This is prime time for a second. The Buccaneers defense hasn’t been able to slow down any opposing quarterback. If Young really is a guy, he’s gotta have a good day against this group while playing at home.
• Have a plan for Vita Vea. Vea is a game wrecker. He rag dolls offensive linemen and is a problem both in the run and pass game. The Panthers offensive line has held up well despite a lot of injuries, but Vea is going to be one of their tougher tests. They should be able to devote extra attention to him, as he and Yaya Diaby are the only really imposing players along the front. The Panthers need to key on Vea and have a plan to keep him occupied on every play.
• Also have a plan for pressure. Todd Bowles is notorious for aggressive defenses built around blitzing. He’s stayed true to that this season. The Buccaneers blitz on 31% of opponent drop backs, sixth most in the NFL. Bryce Young has been super inconsistent dealing with blitzes over the course of his career. He’s had more good moments lately, like a perfect performance against the Rams. But that came one week after one of the worst performances against blitzes the league has seen this season. Bowles can draw some exotic pressures as seen by the fact that 16 different Bucs have been credited with at least half a sack this season, including two corners and two safeties. Dave Canales and Brad Idzik need to have quick outlets built into their passing attack, and Young needs to be ready to check to those outlets when pressure comes. Against the Saints, Young had a propensity to hold onto the ball and bail out into space when faced with pressure. That’s not going to be as easy to do against a Buccaneers team that’s going to have a lot of bodies coming at him.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...7360/panthers-vs-buccaneers-offensive-preview

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Panthers vs Buccaneers: Defensive Preview

Hello CSR! We’re wading into the final stanza of the Panthers 2025 regular season, and this week they’ll go round 1 of 2 against the Tampa Bay Bucs, in what could be their most (or second most) important game of the season. The Bucs held a firm grasp on the NFC South for much of the season, however after losing 5 of their last 6 games since their bye week, the Panthers are in striking distance for the NFC South crown. Of course, the Panthers failed to lock that up themselves with some head scratching losses of their own, so all the marbles are down in this week’s game. Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense will be looking to get right and rule this game, as they’ve had players like Mike Evans and Bucky Irving return in recent weeks. Let’s dive right into the matchup.

• Mike Evans is the priority for the passing game. Every year that I write these defensive previews, Mike Evans is consistently brought up. And for good reason, as he’s logged 118 catches for 1,695 yards and 14 TDs against them in 21 career games, per Statmuse.com. Panthers fans have been dealing with this guy twice a season since 2013, hard to believe right? Evans returned from injury this past week, logging 6 catches for 132 yards in a losing effort vs the Falcons. This is a prime game for Evans to continue his dominance over the Panthers, as Jaycee Horn is coming off another disappointing outing against the Saints, and the defense struggled as a whole to contain a significantly less talented Saints team (twice on the season, by the way). Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson have both had overall career seasons in 2025, so they cannot allow a bounce back game for the Buccaneers passing attack, and Mike Evans is the centerpiece.
• Limit Bucky Irving. The Bucs sorely missed Bucky Irving for the majority of the season with a variety of injuries. On the season, they are 21st in yards per rush and 21st in yards per game. They definitely lean heavily on the passing game, but not having Irving for 7 of their games certainly impacted that. Irving is a dual threat, and can hurt this team both as a rusher and as a receiver. With Baker Mayfield’s up and down play, a good stabilizer would be leaning on Bucky, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker to safely move the ball down the field and keep Baker from taking too many hits or throwing risky passes. I think the Bucs will really try to funnel the game through their rushing attack, and if the offense can’t put up points more often than not, it could be a long day for this defense.
• Force some turnovers. This Panthers defense thrives on playing bend but don’t break defense and forcing opposing teams into making mistakes. It worked out well against the Rams, Cowboys, and Packers, all games they likely should have lost. However, in both Saints games, they didn’t force any turnovers and lost the war of attrition. This defense steals games they shouldn’t win by making big plays on defense to take away possessions from opposing offenses. They need to do that against a Buccaneers offense that knows it is running out of time to lock down the division. Hammering at the ball every chance they get will be the most likely way to force these turnovers, as I do not expect Baker Mayfield to take a lot of major chances if the game script is neutral or positive in their favor.

What are you looking for from the defense this week, Panthers fans?

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...7356/panthers-vs-buccaneers-defensive-preview

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Brian Answers: Dave Canales play calling, Bryce Young’s future, and more!

Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! This is your safe space to talk about anything, whether it be Panthers related, football related, or even completely off topic! Let’s dive into your questions and discussions!

SwampPanther: How do the lowly Saints suddenly look like the team to beat in the NFCS? I thought rebuilding/reloading took time.

It appears that Kellen Moore was an excellent hire. And while the Saints appear to have embraced the rebuild they’ve desperately needed for a long time, they did follow a really good philosophy; build your team to beat your division. Their defense is uniquely capable of limiting the rushing attacks and Moore’s offense can clearly score points against the NFC South defenses. I’m not looking forward to more of this team.

KeepPounding88: Right now it seems like the front office is set on picking up Bryce’s option, and will wait and see when it comes to an extension. Is there anything Bryce can realistically do with only the few games we have left to change their mind either way? Obviously winning the division would help, but in theory the team could carry him while he continues to put up mediocre stats.

I’ve been saying for awhile that I think picking up Bryce Young’s 5th year option makes sense, and even after the Saints loss this past week, that opinion hasn’t changed. I don’t think they’ll opt against it unless Bryce really collapses hard in these last 3 games. I also don’t think they’ll even be discussing an extension unless the Panthers find their way into an NFC Championship run, and even then I’d be 50/50 on the idea. Still not worried about it, that’s a 2027 problem in my opinion.

Irishboy: Wondering Brian, how you feel about Coach Canalas calling plays? I feel that he is a really good HC, and I know all the players love him. But I am skeptical about the play calling. I really thought Sundays game against NO could be a chess match between the teams, and I convinced myself that he would have a plan B and maybe plan C if A was not going according to plan, I didn’t see this.

I think he’s still learning what works. Remember, he was only an offensive coordinator for 1 year before Carolina scooped him up for this role. I still think he’s the right guy for the job, but there will be growing pains, especially considering he inherited a team that has many flaws. His play calling is masterful at times, but that comes with a caveat that sometimes he seems to overthink things. I like the aggression on 4th down, but there’s going to be times where it doesn’t work and we saw those results on Sunday. Clearly there is still a level of distrust with his quarterback, and that’s going to hold back some of his situational play calling at times. We’ll see this week, since its basically a playoff game.

Robholland211: Brian, my wife and I watched in disbelief on Sunday when Bryce took the 9 yard sack in the 4th quarter. She claimed he must be point shaving because he always seems to take a bad sack in a crucial moment of games we should win. Do you think that Bryce is sandbagging the team in games we are favored?

No.

schrodingersblackcat: I’ve seen this come up a couple different places this week, and this seems like a good place to debate it. (Plus, I’m kind of exhausted with trying to make sense of this team at the moment.)

Would you like to see any changes to the kicking rules?

FG?/ OT scoring rules?

PAT?/ Only 2pt conversions?/ 7pt TD?

Kicks?/ Pre or post rule change?/ Onside kick rules?

Punt?/ Takeover on downs?

Does it make the game better or worse that a last minute FG can decide the game? Are the OT rules too convoluted as a result? Is there a better way to maximize/minimize kicks? Should PATs be a relic of the past?

I’m actually fine with the rules the way they are. The kickoff is back to being an impact play, and I like that there’s some strategy involved with it. As far as PATs and punts go, I say keep them. The only thing I don’t like is the onside kick only being allowed at specific times in the game. I think they should go back to being able to do them whenever they want.

e4*: Probably asked as much for cathartic reasons as seeking an actual answer…. When will enough be enough with trotting out this QB and expecting a different result?

Probably not until 2026.

KSUDD: Pure curiosity question. Joe Burrow had a weird press conference that alarmed a lot of people right before the Bengals had a terrible shutout loss against a really poor Ravens team. If Burrow gets traded or requests a trade, which is more speculation than reality right now, what do you think the cost would be? And what team would be able/willing to foot the cost and has a big enough need at QB? I’m not certain there’s a good enough fit between trade cost and need given the penny pinching nature of the Bengals ownership.

I’d imagine 3 first round picks and some kind of contract negotiations for some of the dead cap on his contract would be the starting price. I would say maybe the Raiders would be the best situation for it to actually happen, or the Browns because they have two firsts next year. Either way, its going to probably cost about what Deshaun Watson’s trade costed, minus the off field issues. But I don’t expect the Bengals to trade him, I think its all just nonsense.

Bull123: OK…we have all taken an extra day after Sundays debacle, but we now need to do what we need our team to do…know that the season is a long way from over…that is to think completely on this week

will our team be able to do that & come out with the focus & mindset that is needed?

Oddly enough this team seems to respond better to losing than winning. They’ve come out flat after major upsets in the following games, but tend to show up after bad losses. So I think they might bring it for the Bucs this week. Might not bode well for the Seahawks game though!

positivebob: Year’s not over yet, but what’s your grade on Morgan’s 2025 FA class? Martin, Moehrig and Dowdle worked out, Rozeboom and BB3 played some ok snaps, and some not ok snaps. Wharton and Jones did not contribute much and I think Tremble and Dalton were a waste of roster spots, but I get why he signed Dalton. Morgan get what he paid for?

Free Agency tends to be a mixed bag for most teams, unless you’re pretty much a guaranteed Super Bowl contender. I’d give it a solid B. Sam Martin was an A+ for me, he’s been very good for a team that really needs to play the field position game. Tre’Von Moehrig is a stud and I was very happy when he signed, and he’s exceeded my expectations. The biggest question at the time was if the Panthers and Ejiro Evero would use him correctly, and they have. He’s not Earl Thomas, that was never his game. But maybe they’ll bring in a more natural compliment since Nick Scott is not currently signed for next year (this is not a slight on Nick Scott, he’s the leader of this defense, don’t @ me). Rico Dowdle worked out extremely well as a low cost, low risk signing. He’s going to want a lot more money next season and he deserves it, but I don’t know if it makes sense for Carolina to give it to him. I also feel Patrick Jones was a solid addition for the edge rushers even though he unfortunately got hurt, I think he was bringing more to the table than DJ Wonnum.

I have a hard time giving out a bad grade for Tershawn Wharton, he’s been terrific when healthy and I don’t believe he came in with an injury prone tag. Christian Rozeboom has played probably up to the ceiling of what I expected when he signed, he’s good sometimes and awful sometimes, I don’t think the original expectation was for him to be the every down ILB2, but if it was, this is what the coaches should have expected. Bobby Brown III is basically a run stuffer through and through, I only wish they used him more, but Evero tends to use A’Shawn Robinson since he’s more multi-faceted. So yeah, its a solid B from me. They added talent that they desperately needed, nobody seems to have come out as a major bust signing. We can scrutinize contracts, but in this day and age you gotta pay to bring decent talent in.

bolshy: If we exercise Bryce’s 5th year option, what do you think he would be worth in a trade?

If they exercise his 5th year option, they aren’t trading him in the off-season. That’s likely not going to come up until midway through 2026, and that would be if Carolina is either basically eliminated from playoff contention or whatever competition they bring in has won the job. At that point, he’d be worth a mid round pick at best.

Revshawn: Perhaps the real Carolina Panthers are the friends we made along the way.

And the real Clemson Tigers are the potential friends we just missed in passing.

@WTMealey: This is just a thank you. I feel this site is just group therapy for the trauma that is being a Panthers Fan in the Post Cam era. Literally we know there is no predicting what will happen next other than to those unfamilar it will be unexpected, but any combination of wins and losses in the next 3 possibly more weeks is as likely as any other combination with this team.

I don’t want to debate Bryce or Canales anymore. I want the joy of beating the Rams back. I don’t know if beating the Bucs will feel the same after last week. If its like the last Falcons game it might. If its like the Green Bay game IDK.

Again thanks for this site and here’s to a few more ups than downs on the rest of this rollercoaster ride. The Panthers are like the weather I guess. Don’t like it wait a week.

We really do appreciate you guys. This community wouldn’t be what it is without a devout group of fans who are passionate about this team. This particular year has been so much fun, because we really have no idea what to think of the Panthers on a week to week basis. Anyone who has been here and stayed here for the last decade plus, thank YOU.

Enjoy Sunday Panthers fans!

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...les-play-calling-bryce-youngs-future-and-more

 

[Carolina Panthers]

CSR Weekend Warriors: 12/19-12/21

Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/the-scratching-post/57370/csr-weekend-warriors-12-19-12-21

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Panthers Reacts Survey Week 16: The next stop on the Carolina roller-coaster

Y’all know the deal at this point. The Carolina Panthers lost a game they were widely expected to win. Roller-coaster logic suggests that this week’s Reacts Survey will show dropping confidence before an against-the-odds win against Tampa Bay on Sunday.

History will repeat. Hopes will be strung along. We’ll all be set up perfectly for the next surprising loss, though the Panthers are running out of opportunities for those this season.

This week we are just asking our confidence question. We have a bunch of questions to ask after the season is over to determine how fans view Dave Canales, Bryce Young, Dan Morgan, and more. But now is not the time for that.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Panthers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...-the-next-stop-on-the-carolina-roller-coaster

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Panthers Injury Report & Transactions – Week 16

The Carolina Panthers front office is busy throughout the season with transactions, roster moves, and injury updates. Here’s what’s happening at Mint Street this week.

Injuries​

The 7-7 Panthers host the 7-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week in the most consequential game at Bank of America Stadium in years. The winner will be along in first place in the NFC South with just two weeks remaining. This is about as big as a regular season game can be, and the Panthers will need to be healthy to come away with a massive win.

The three biggest notes on the injury report are that defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton and linebacker Trevin Wallace will miss this one. Wharton hasn’t played in any games this month, but the Panthers could really use his girth up front. Wallace has dealt with some injuries this year that have cost him two games, and this week will be a third absence for the second-year player.

On the offensive side of the ball, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday and was a limited participant yesterday. He is currently listed as questionable for tomorrow, and the Panthers really need him available for this crucial game.

Transactions​

Here are the notable transactions taking place this week:

Signed RB Montrell Johnson to the practice squad. Johnson is an undrafted rookie from the University of Florida. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back rushed for 2,251 yards and 21 touchdowns in three seasons with the Gators. He has spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals this year without appearing in any games.

Signed OLB Jamil Muhammad to the practice squad. Muhammad is another undrafted rookie. He spent three seasons at Georgia State then transferred to USC for his final two college seasons. In 26 games with the Trojans he racked up 73 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. He spent some time with the Los Angeles Rams this season without appearing in any games.

Lastly, the Panthers Activated guard Saahdiq Charles and linebacker Isaiah Simmons from the practice squad by standard elevation for Week 16.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...4/panthers-injury-report-transactions-week-16

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Panthers vs Bucs: Live fan discussion for Week 16

The NFL season moves on while Carolina Panthers fans are stuck trying to make sense of a record that has them neck-and-neck for the division title and saw them get swept by the New Orleans Saints. It’s been a weird year. But none of that matters now. The Panthers open their series against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today with the NFC South crown on the line.

This is actually the biggest game of the season so far. First it was the game against the Buffalo Bills, a test against a real contender. Then it was the first Saints game, the first time being favored in a long time. Then it was the San Francisco 49ers game, a test of the team’s mettle against primetime attention on Monday Night Football. Last week, it was the second game against the Saints, a test of being favored again with bonus divisional stakes.

Now the Panthers are underdogs, at home, and have the chance to take control of the NFC South race. After 14 games of watching the Panthers closely and seeing how they failed each of their big tests so far and then responded to those failures with great successes, I can confidently say that none of us know what will happen today.

This is your open thread to follow along with us for all the action today.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread!

Join the conversation!​

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Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...thers-vs-bucs-live-fan-discussion-for-week-16

 

[Carolina Panthers]

Carolina Panthers vs Seattle Seahawks opening odds

Your 8-7 Carolina Panthers are in first place in the NFC South and are facing the current number one seed in the NFC in the 12-3 Seattle Seahawks. This is likely to be a buzzsaw game for the Panthers, as they measure their playoff hopes against one of the best teams in the league whose eyes are firmly on the postseason consequences of every regular season matchup left on their schedule.

Week 17​

Spread​

Seahawks: -7.5 (-104)

Panthers: +7.5 (-118)

O/U​

42.5 (-118/-104)

Moneyline​

Seahawks: -360

Panthers: +290

It may comfort you to know that the Carolina Panthers are winless in games in which they are favored this season. They are also undefeated in facing projected NFC number one seeds. Of course, neither of those facts have any actual bearing on this game. The fact of the matter is that the Seahawks, 6-1 on the road, and the Panthers, 5-2 at home, are not playing on the same level right now in spite of whatever stories we can cook up to relate them.

Could the Panthers win? Absolutely. Could they clinch a playoffs berth if they do? Also, yes. Should we expect them to actually be competitive? Not in the slightest. They are touchdown home underdogs by oversight. These are two very different teams.

The above odds were current as of the writing of this post. You can take a look at—and place a bet on—live odds for this game and more here at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...ina-panthers-vs-seattle-seahawks-opening-odds

 

[Carolina Panthers]

The Optimist: Eyes on the prize, y’all

The Carolina Panthers are in first place in the NFC South entering Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season. They can clinch the division with a win this week and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss. They cannot be eliminated from the playoffs until Week 18 at the earliest. Week 18 is also known as the last week of the season. I don’t care if head coach Dave Canales is still learning how to play into his team’s strengths in short yardage and goal line situations. I don’t care if Bryce Young is determined in January to not be the future of the Panthers franchise. I really don’t care if any fans, myself included, have set-in-stone opinions about any of the leaders or high profile members of the Carolina Panthers. Nothing matters about this franchise right now past the fact that they are in contention.

It has been too long since that has been the case. It has been too long since the result of a Panthers game has had consequences that echoed longer than it took to turn off the TV. We are watching a young team suffer through growing pains and still exceed the best efforts of any iteration of the Carolina Panthers in the past seven years.

Their eight wins so far exceed the best win total of any Panthers team since their 11-5 wildcard team in 2017. They are one win away from the first winning record since that season. They are two wins away from a ten win season.

It doesn’t matter if they lose out from here. Being in the neighborhood is better than we were expecting when we were optimistic in the offseason. It is unrecognizable compared to what we were expecting after the Panthers started 0-2. Their current record and position matches nothing of what any of us would have expected if we told our past selves that the Panthers were going to get swept by the Saints this season.

This team is silly. This team is inconsistent. The growing pains metaphor is particularly apt because they play like toddlers. They’ll surprise you with their perception, their inquisitiveness, and their ability to find themselves in cabinets that were supposed to be locked. They may not win the 5k they somehow got onto the road for, but right now they are charming everybody who catches sight of them running backwards on the road wearing their pants on their heads.

We were always rooting for the Panthers to learn how to put their pants on their legs next season. This was billed as a three year rebuild and that was if Young panned out. The jury is still out on him and the team is knocking on the door of the playoffs, punting talk of the 2026 draft to February—where it belongs—and giving life to a home crowd that was anywhere else for the holidays in recent years. If that’s not worth smiling about today then I’m not sure why any of us are here.

Source: https://www.catscratchreader.com/ca...sis/57407/the-optimist-eyes-on-the-prize-yall