CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales made his point.
Canales can handle the 30-10 loss to the Shedeur Sanders-led Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium. What he does not want to deal with is undisciplined actions.
Like wide receiver Xavier Legette fighting with defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins during the first quarter and getting ejected. Canales preaches physicality, but to remain “smart.”
Following the run play, Legette retained his grip on Jenkins’ jersey, then delivered four punches before falling.
“We ask our receivers to finish the play with hands on. He was,” Canales said during the post-game press conference. “He had his hands on the guy the whole time through the echo of the whistle. The guy swung and chopped his arms down and Xavier kind of held onto his jersey.
“Then they started exchanging punches. You can’t do that. Both guys got ejected, rightfully so. We can’t have that as a part of our game. It’s a physical game. Tempers are going to get hot, but as soon as you throw a punch, all of a sudden, we’re at a disadvantage.
“We want to see better from X, for sure.”
Legette posted an apology on X (Twitter): “Panthers nation I apologize It (won’t) happen again!!”
#Panthers kickoff 2025 #NFL preseason … pic.twitter.com/jLutOKte93
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 8, 2025
Dave Canales: Panthers Starters To Play ‘More’ Vs. Texans
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young played only one series during the three-game exhibition season in 2024. As a first-year coach, Canales took the safe route with a majority of first-teamers.
In his second season, he is adopting a new philosophy. The starters, who mostly played two series against the Browns, will also play two or three series Saturday night at the Houston Texans.
After a three-and-out on the opening drive, Young engineered a nine-play, 73-yard touchdown drive, capped by a scrambling 5-yard pass to Jalen Coker, who replaced Legette after his altercation.
At least that’s the plan entering the teams’ joint practice Thursday.
“I think it’s going to depend on, we got another great week of practice and we’re going to have a joint practice, so I think, you know, if we feel like we got enough work out of the practice part of it, it might look like (Friday),” Canales said. “I’d love to play them just a little bit more. Just the more that you can do that, the more they can kind of you know refocus and come out for another drive.”
During the second of two series Friday night versus #Browns , Bryce Young directed the first-team offense to a nine-play, 73-yard touchdown Drive. #Panthers QB compiled a 137.5 passer rating during #NFL preseason opener … pic.twitter.com/gssccHHBAk
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 10, 2025
Panthers Remain Injury-Free
Despite the score, Canales was grateful for the preseason outing’s outcome, reporting no serious injuries.
“We came out clean, some bumps and bruises, nothing that’s gonna keep people out of practices from the game,” Canales said. “We made it through pretty clean, about as clean as I can remember in a preseason game, so I’m really excited about that.”
Defensive tackle Derrick Brown (rib/oblique), Jaycee Horn (hand), and Hunter Renfrow (hamstring) did not dress Friday, but are expected to return to practice next week. Sunday is a scheduled off day.
Dave Canales, exiting last Wednesdays’s #NFL training camp joint practice with #Browns , said #Panthers escaped their preseason-opening loss without any serious injuries. “We made it through pretty clean,” he said Saturday … pic.twitter.com/fJpbyyczwS
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 10, 2025
