The 2025 preseason is now two-thirds complete for the Carolina Panthers, who suffered a 20-3 defeat at the hands of the Houston Texans on Saturday.

As a whole, their showing wasn’t exactly the greatest. But with the sour result came a few worthwhile positives.

Here are the key takeaways from this afternoon’s exhibition loss . . .

Starters have uninspiring performance

While the preseason can be an exhaustive time filled with overreactions, Carolina’s starters didn’t do much to inspire some hope moving forward.

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The donkey of the day was the first-team offense, which amassed all of three net yards on only two possessions. Quarterback Bryce Young—on the very first play from scrimmage—threw an interception that was called back, then was failed by the hands of tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders on what would have been a chain-moving completion on a third-and-8.

Carolina was turned away on a three-and-out on their second touch. That drive ended on a sack from Texans defensive end Mario Edwards.

The defense, while not nearly as disappointing as the offense, looked a little bit like the dreadful 2024 squad—allowing Houston to piece together an 11-play, 60-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter.

Rookies flash once again, including another UDFA

Some rookies have continued to shine, with others rebounding from quiet offerings a week prior.

Running back Trevor Etienne and safety Lathan Ransom, the team’s pair of fourth-rounder selections, made some plays. Etienne ran hard with good vision, quickness, and balance—despite his best runs being wiped away by holding calls. Ransom made solid tackles in space and showcased his hitting power on a few occasions.

Undrafted free-agent signee Corey Thornton may have established himself as a backup outside cornerback. Fellow undrafted defensive back Michael Reid popped as well—both in run support and in pass coverage.

Incoom, Umanmielen showcase pass-rush prowess

Outside linebackers Thomas Incoom and Princely Umanmielen played deep into the third quarter on Saturday. Both pass rushers had good repetitions off the edge, with quality wins and pressures.

Incoom continues to be a standout on special teams and might have an edge to make the roster over former third-round pick DJ Johnson.

Umanmielen has continued to grow as a rusher, but also as a run defender. The 2025 third-round pick tracked the ball carrier well off the edge with good pursuit and displayed his stopping power on a few plays.

Is Brycen Tremayne the No. 6/7 WR?

There have not been enough flashes this preseason from sixth-round pick Jimmy Horn Jr., whose speed and explosiveness present a fresh element to the Panthers’ receiver group. And if doubt starts to creep in, Tremayne might lining up a seat in that wideout room.

Tremayne, who has impressed this summer, made the most out of his time on Saturday—reeling in three catches for a team-high 46 receiving yards.

If this particular position is as crowded as the Panthers have been letting on, then Tremayne may be making a run for the final spot at the expense of a fellow youngster.

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