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Carolina Panthers Schedule Release Leaks: Confirmed Opponents and Dates

Here are the games that have already leaked.
Zach Roberts|
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales looks on against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales looks on against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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Carolina Panthers

In a few days, we will all know exactly what the 2026 schedule looks like for the Carolina Panthers. We have known the unfortunate slate of opponents for a long time, but we have no idea when those games will be held or when the bye week is.

Ahead of the May 14 launch of the actual schedule, though, information tends to trickle out. The NFL is not immune to leaks, and schedule leaks have become part of the process. So as we continue learning about what is (or may be) on the schedule, we will keep this tracker updated with the leaks related to the Panthers.

For example, the Sunday Night Football opener is Cowboys-Giants. That leaked, as did the Cowboys-Eagles Thanksgiving Day game in Week 12. Those don't matter to the Panthers, but these do.

Leaked Panthers schedule

According to a report, the Panthers will host the Chicago Bears in Week 1. This is peak cinema for the NFL, as the current versions of these teams are forever linked.

The Panthers sent the Bears a haul for what turned out to be Bryce Young. Part of it turned out to be Caleb Williams, and those two will face off. It will show how far Young is from being at Williams' level to start the season.

It will also be a good test for the Panthers to determine whether or not they used the preseason well enough. Last year, they did not, and for the first game and a half, they were sleepwalking. The Jacksonville Jaguars ended up being a very good team and made Carolina pay for that.

If Dave Canales' team sleepwalks against the Bears, they will absolutely make the Panthers pay for it, so the preseason is that much more important.

Additionally, per another leak, the Buccaneers will host the Panthers in Week 12, and that game will be on Monday Night Football. That makes at least one primetime game for the Panthers and a second consecutive year with a MNF outing.

Carolina Panthers team owner David Tepper and General Manager Dan Morgan during the first quarter
Carolina Panthers team owner David Tepper and General Manager Dan Morgan during the first quarter | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Finally, according to a source, the Panthers-Packers game will be a Thursday Night Football contest. That one will be on October 29. Another leak suggests the Panthers will see the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football on October 4.

For now, that's all the leaks regarding Panthers games. Since they aren't likely to have too many primetime games and aren't that notable to the wider NFL audience, we don't expect to get too much more information before Thursday's release.

There is, however, a new leak that suggests the Panthers will not travel outside the US. They haven't had an international contest since 2024, when they visited Munich to face the New York Giants.

Also, it should be stressed that these are leaks. The Panthers may open the season with the Bears at home, but it is not set in stone until that schedule actually releases.

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Zach Roberts
ZACH ROBERTS

Zachary Roberts is a journalist with a wide variety of experience covering basketball, golf, entertainment, video games, music, football, baseball, and hockey. He currently covers Charlotte sports teams and has been featured on Sportskeeda, Yardbarker, MSN, and On SI.

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