Panthers Drop Preseason Finale to Lions

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Friday night, the Carolina Panthers closed out preseason play with a 26-17 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Bryce Young's first drive got off to a great start with a completion to fellow rookie Jonathan Mingo on a crosser that went for a gain of 14, but for a split second, it looked like it had a chance to pop for six.

Although the coaching staff probably doesn't want Young taking off very often, he will when needed and put a couple guys on skates on consecutive plays to move the chains. The drive resulted in a 41-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro, who made his return after missing the first two weeks of preseason play with a groin injury.

On the ensuing kickoff, Khalil Dorsey nearly took it to the house, returning it 62 yards to set the Lions up at the Carolina 37. A holding call on first down backed them up and three plays later, they had to settle for a 53-yard field goal attempt from Riley Patterson which boinked off the crossbar.

After going down with an injury earlier in the quarter, wide receiver Adam Thielen bounced back with a couple of big catches, the second of which resulted in the first touchdown pass of Bryce Young's NFL career. That score would also mark the end of Young's day, finishing 14/24 for 129 yards and one touchdown for the preseason.

Bryce Young finds Adam Thielen for his first TD of the preseason 🙌

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/R7ofbG8NNd
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 26, 2023

Detroit got on the board a few minutes into the second via a five-yard rushing score from Craig Reynolds and that was just the start of an explosive quarter from the Teddy Bridgewater-led Lions.

CJ Henderson gifted Detroit prime field position following a pass interference penalty (36 yards), setting the Lions up shop at the seven. Carolina's defense clamped down and nearly came away with a pick on third down. Detroit lined up to go for it on fourth from the two but a false start forced Dan Campbell to kick the chip shot.

Veteran backup quarterback Andy Dalton made his preseason debut and on his third series, he was picked off in the end zone by Chase Lucas. A few plays later, Bridgewater found Antoine Green for a 70-yard touchdown.

Things would only get worse for the Panthers. Rookie undrafted free agent running back Cam Peoples (Appalachian State alum) fumbled on the first play of the next drive, which just also so happened to be his first carry of the preseason. Fortunately for Carolina, Detroit only came away with three points and went into the half with a 20-10 lead.

It was a rough outing for former 2022 third-round draft pick Matt Corral, failing to connect on his first four pass attempts. He ended the night going just 4/12 for 52 yards, but it wasn't all bad. He did have a 27-yard scramble and 17-yard completion to Giovanni Ricci on a rollout. Spencer Brown finished the drive off with a physical rush into the end zone to bring the Panthers within three. Still, not quite the outing Corral would have liked to have had in his final audition for the front office.

Detroit pushed their lead back out to two scores on a pick-six from Steven Gilmore, the younger brother of former Panther Stephon Gilmore. Jake Luton tried to force one to Gary Jennings on 3rd & 21 and Gilmore beat him to the spot.

Luton did heat up on the next series completing 5/7 passes but the drive came to an end when Cam Peoples fumbled a ball through the back of the end zone, putting the final nail in the coffin.

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