Key takeaways from Panthers' preseason loss to Texans
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.
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.This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers preseason: Key takeaways from Saturday's loss to Texans
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New York Times
a minute ago
- New York Times
Broncos stock report: Jarrett Stidham, young WRs pop in preseason win vs. Cardinals
DENVER — The Denver Broncos defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 27-7, in Saturday's preseason game, a matchup of two teams resting the bulk of their starters. The Broncos moved to 2-0 in their exhibition schedule, which closes next week with a trip to New Orleans. Denver coach Sean Payton said his starters will play 'eight to 10 plays' in that tune-up finale. Advertisement With roster cuts looming and the Sept. 7 season opener against the Tennessee Titans rapidly approaching, let's take a look at some risers and fallers for the Broncos after Saturday's game: When the Broncos' starting quarterback competition ended last year with rookie Bo Nix winning the job, the outcome didn't change the opinion the runner-up, veteran Jarrett Stidham, held of himself. 'I believe I can be a starting quarterback in this league,' Stidham said at the time. It's hard to fault Stidham for that view after gauging his performance through two games this preseason. He completed 16-of-23 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns in just one half of work Saturday. That came on the heels of a near-perfect performance in the preseason opener against the 49ers, when he completed all but one of his 15 pass attempts for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Put simply, Stidham has been dealing. 'It's normal to me. Stiddy always be going crazy in practice,' rookie RJ Harvey said. 'He puts in the work and it's a joy to be back there with him.' T as in Touchdown‼️@troyylul | 📺: 9NEWS — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 17, 2025 Stidham did not have a starting job waiting for him on the free-agent market in March, but there were destinations that would have offered a better chance to see the field at some point in 2025. The veteran opted for continuity in Denver, where the starter, Bo Nix, has become one of his best friends and where the quarterbacks coach, Davis Webb, has known Stidham since the two were high school quarterbacks in Texas. His decision to stick around on a new two-year, $12 million contract was a coup for the Broncos. In a perfect world, Stidham won't take a meaningful snap this season as Nix continues his growth as a young franchise quarterback. But feeling good about who you'll turn to in a pinch at the sport's most important position is important peace of mind for a coach to have — and Payton clearly has it with his backup quarterback. Advertisement That Stidham executed a brilliant two-minute drill to end the first half Saturday while Webb was handed play-calling duties from Payton only made the performance that much sweeter. 'Tonight was a big deal for him, too,' Stidham said. 'If you're a coach and you want to be a play caller in this league, when you get your first opportunity, it's a big deal. I was super proud of him and super happy for him. He's an incredible coach and he's going to be an incredible coach for a very long time in this league. I've been fortunate to be around some of the greats, and Davis is amazing.' Webb joined the Broncos as the team's quarterbacks coach in 2023, only months after finishing his playing career as a backup quarterback. This offseason, the Broncos added passing game coordinator to Webb's title. He had a dress rehearsal calling plays in Friday's practice, but Saturday marked his first time doing it during a game. His work included the two-minute drive that ended in a touchdown pass to Troy Franklin. Payton handed Webb a game ball in the locker room afterward. 'He did a really good job,' Payton said. 'That experience is invaluable. Until you do it, it's much faster than you think.' It almost feels disingenuous to put Franklin in a 'risers' category when he's been playing at such a high level throughout training camp. But he hit another gear Saturday by catching both of Stidham's touchdown passes in the first half. The second-year speedster beat Arizona's zone coverage with a nifty double move in the first quarter to get wide open for a 27-yard touchdown. In the final minute of the second quarter, he adjusted perfectly to nab a back-shoulder throw from Stidham through tight coverage, landing two feet in bounds and holding onto the ball through contact as he hit the ground. This angle. 😮💨 📺: 9NEWS — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 17, 2025 There is simply no understating the difference between Franklin's second NFL offseason and his first. Play calls would swim in his head last season as he navigated the line of scrimmage, trying to remember all his responsibilities. It was like he was trying to zoom down an open highway with snow chains on his tires. Advertisement Franklin has been unburdened this offseason, owed to experience that has allowed him to slow down the pre-snap process and ramp up his play speed as a result. He could be a bonafide No. 2 target for Nix this season behind Courtland Sutton. 'It's hard to even put into words because he's grown so much from last year,' Stidham said. 'You can tell he's playing with so much confidence right now. Obviously, I think he's going to help our offense in a really big way. I know the guys in our (quarterback) room are really excited about that.' The rookie wide receiver caught four passes for 70 yards during his work in the first half, showcasing toughness over the middle and soft hands as he scooped up one Stidham pass just an inch or two above the ground. His best effort, though, may have come without the ball in his hands. On the second play of the game, Stidham hit tight end Evan Engram, who had found open space in the middle of the field. The play was destined for a big gain, but roughly 20 of the 58 yards Engram gained on the play came after Bryant sprinted down the field to land a block on an Arizona player that helped spring the tight end up the sideline. Those are the kinds of plays the Broncos saw routinely when they evaluated Bryant's film at Illinois ahead of the draft. He welcomed contact — sought it even — as a receiver and a blocker. He showed up in big moments. It's early in the process for the rookie third-round pick, but many of those traits have popped during his first NFL season. He took up residence in the middle of the field Saturday, like when he caught a 29-yard pass from Stidham one play after he helped spring Engram with the downfield block. 'What quarterbacks like that I do is I become friendly,' Bryant said in explaining his penchant for exploiting the middle of the field. 'I don't drift away from the ball. I always come back and attack the ball. They can throw it anywhere over the middle of the field. Based on how I run my route, I'm going to be able to catch the ball.' The rookie running back turned his first carry of the game into an 8-yard touchdown. Harvey took the handoff from Stidham, made one quick stutter-step cut and zoomed through a pinhole of daylight inside and pushed into the end zone. Advertisement It was the sort of quick, decisive burst Harvey has displayed throughout training camp. It was also a validation of his own self-talk following his debut preseason performance against the 49ers last week. Harvey had some nice moments in his debut, including a 12-yard run after dashing outside. But the second-round pick also felt like he left a big run or two on the table because he let his mind move quicker than his feet when he turned down an inside hole to bounce outside. 'It was just being more confident in myself, really,' he said. 'Last week, first NFL game, I felt like I was out there thinking too much. It was just (about) being decisive and making plays.' With the Broncos resting most of their frontline starters Saturday, outside linebackers Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman turned into appointment viewing. Elliss set the tone with a 5-yard tackle for loss that helped stall Arizona's first drive. Tillman dropped a Cardinals ball carrier for a loss on the next defensive series. From there, both players relentlessly chased Cardinals third-string quarterback Clayton Tune, forcing him into hurried throws. Both players had five sacks last season as part of a deep Broncos edge group and could be even bigger contributors this season as Denver aims to distribute snaps in an effort to keep its starting front seven fresh. 'It's a big step for me to just go out there and feel comfortable,' Elliss said. 'I feel like it just came from experience. Going through last year, getting a good amount of reps, I felt like that just helped me going into this year feel comfortable with my play.' Elliss and Tillman are roster locks. Inside linebacker Jordan Turner, meanwhile, is trying to fight his way from the bubble to the 53. The undrafted rookie out of Michigan State certainly did himself a favor with the way he played Saturday night. Turner was credited with 1 1/2 sacks, three quarterback hits and five tackles in about a half of work. The numbers were one thing, but it was the way he shot like a torpedo into the backfield that stood out Saturday. The Broncos will need to get pretty nitpicky in order to find a lot of fault with Saturday's game, but one easy-to-find sore spot is the rash of pre-snap penalties that popped up for the second consecutive week. Advertisement On one first-half drive, the Broncos were flagged for two false starts and then committed an illegal formation penalty that was offset by a defensive penalty. Later, rookie tight end Caleb Lohner was flagged for an illegal shift only three plays after he had been penalized for offensive holding. In total, the Broncos committed 11 penalties for 75 yards and a hefty chunk of those were pre-snap infractions on offense. 'There's going to be a lot of good things on tape we like and then one area that has to get cleaned up with the penalties,' Payton said. 'More importantly, the pre-snap penalties.' Payton stressed after Saturday's game that he thought all of the running backs who played in Saturday's game — only veteran JK Dobbins was held out — performed well. He cautioned not to make much of the fact that Estimé was the last of those five active backs to touch the ball Saturday. 'The plan early on was RJ,' Payton said. 'Obviously, (Tyler) Badie was going to get work, then Jaleel (McLaughlin), Audric and then Blake (Watson). We knew we wanted two-thirds of the game to get to Blake and Audric. I think we were able to accomplish that. Now, again, it's not an exact science, but those guys got a lot of work, and I thought they did a good job with their opportunities.' McLaughlin flashed with his brief work in the second quarter, gaining 48 yards on three carries. Badie, who has climbed his way up the depth chart the past couple of weeks, carried four times for 14 yards. Watson got the first carries of the second half and ultimately rushed 10 times for 34 yards and also gained 20 yards on four receptions. Estimé, meanwhile, ran nine times for 20 yards (2.2 yards per carry), with a long of 7 yards. He didn't have much open space to work with running behind a reserve offensive line that was thinned out by what appeared to be a serious knee injury for guard Nick Gargiulo, who had to be carted off the field with his right leg immobilized in an air cast. Still, it was a performance lacking the kind of big play Estimé could have used in such a tight competition. Advertisement Payton said after the game that the Broncos still have not figured out the running back room with roster cuts approaching. It's possible, if not likely, that Denver will keep four running backs. There is still a week of practice and then next week's preseason finale in New Orleans to make an impression. But if Saturday's order of participation was any indication, Estimé, the fifth-round pick in 2024, has ground to make up if he's going to stay on Denver's active roster. The Cardinals' only touchdown came when Jacoby Brissett hit receiver Simi Fehoko for a 16-yard touchdown. Fehoko had a free run to the end zone after Mathis, the fourth-year corner, bit down hard on a double move by the receiver and didn't have enough real estate to catch up. Mathis later recovered to help force an incompletion on a deep ball. His training camp is certainly more than one misstep during a play in a preseason game. He has played 43 games for the Broncos across the last three seasons with 18 starts, and that experience will be part of his evaluation. Mathis is nonetheless on the bubble and could have used a splash play or two Saturday instead of being in chase position on the game's only touchdown. If the Broncos keep five corner/nickelbacks, that lineup will likely be: Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, Ja'Quan McMillian and Kris Abrams-Draine. Perhaps the Broncos go heavy at the spot and hold onto Mathis, who played a career-high 44 percent of Denver's special teams snaps last season. But Mathis, a 2022 fourth-round pick, has no guaranteed money on the final year of his rookie contract and the Broncos would save $3.4 million by releasing him, cap space that could be applied to in-season moves. That, too, could be part of the equation as the Broncos make their final choices in the secondary. (Top photo of Stidham: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
a minute ago
- New York Times
NWSL match finishes scoreless after 3.5-hour heat delay: ‘It was too hot to play'
The NWSL match between the Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri, was delayed for three and a half hours due to extreme heat, reigniting a debate over the feasibility of midafternoon kickoffs in professional soccer in the United States. The weather delay became the focus of what was supposed to be a highly anticipated clash, with the top-seeded Current facing the defending NWSL Champions in what has become a classic rivalry between two of the best teams in the NWSL. The match ended with a scoreless draw, which was a first for the Current, who had never gone scoreless at CPKC Stadium. Advertisement The match was set to kick off at 3 p.m. local time, but instead began at 6:28 p.m., after temperatures were deemed too dangerous to play, per NWSL policy. The fixture was initially delayed because of a five-minute runoff from the WNBA game between the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty, which was scheduled earlier on CBS. Then, word quickly began spreading from reporters in Kansas City that the match would be pushed even further due to the heat. We are all at the mercy of this device… 93.5 degrees of the last reading.. next reading is at 3:47 p.m. [image or embed] — PJ Green (@ August 16, 2025 at 4:35 PM Per NWSL policy, the wet globe temperature (WGBT) must not exceed 92.3 degrees Fahrenheit. WGBT measures heat stress in direct sunlight, accounting for factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud coverage. At kickoff, that metric was closer to 94 degrees at the stadium. The match was delayed several times before temperatures fell below the appropriate threshold for the match to begin. Many questioned why the match had not been postponed sooner, considering a moderate heat advisory had already been issued for most of Missouri on Saturday. 'The league aims to play matches as scheduled whenever safely possible. While forecasts guide planning, we primarily rely on real-time, on-site weather data to make informed decisions in accordance with our inclement weather policies and protocols. Based on those inputs, the league made the decision to delay today's match,' a league spokesperson told The Athletic in a statement. Players were warming up and preparing for kickoff when the first heat-related weather delay hit. Orlando head coach Seb Hines said in post-match availability he was 'disappointed' with how those three hours unfolded, describing confusion as the match was pushed back repeatedly. 'It was too hot to play, and we would have liked that decision to have been made earlier on, before warm-up, so they can probably prep a little bit better,' Hines said. 'It was a lot of waiting around: 'we're going to test the wet bulb', 'another 15 minutes,' and there's a lot of confusion and lack of communication as well, as to what the next steps were.' He added, though, that he was 'pleased' the team eventually got on the pitch once conditions were deemed safe. By kickoff, he described the temperature as feeling 'cooler' than the scorching heat earlier in the afternoon. 'Overall, I was disappointed with the decision making prior to the six o'clock kickoff, but once we got there, I think that was (in) the best interest for the players and everyone here, and even the fans as well,' Hines said. 'It's brutal, three o'clock. Suns beaming. We have to have the best interest for everyone who's involved here at the stadium.' Kansas City players Ellie Wheeler and Izzy Rodriguez described to reporters how their team managed to stay focused during the hours-long delay. They tried to relax, ate some food and watched 'pump up' videos, or replays of some of their best tackles, goals or moments as a team. 'Breaks like that can always break the rhythm of a team, but I think we do a really good job of staying united,' Wheeler said. 'We stay together. Try to stay off our phones as much (as we could). We're listening to music, staying pumped up, but ultimately, it is about our safety, and we know that, so we just made sure that (after) every 15-minute break we were ready to go.' Advertisement Rodriguez added, 'For us, it's just going to be (about), control what we can control. … They might make decisions differently in the future, but what we can control is being prepared for whatever time the game is going to be played.' Kansas City head coach Vlatko Andonovski said his team was ready for the impact of the extreme heat. 'It was a long day, and, to some degree, we knew that this is a possibility, and as a team, we did everything possible to stay focused already throughout the whole day,' he said. 'There's nothing we could do to change the weather, so we just focused on the things that we can control.' Andonovski said protecting the health and safety of the players was everyone's priority. 'No matter what decision was made today, the first thing that everyone thought about was the health and the safety of the players,' he said. 'No matter what the game is, how important the game is, who the opponent is, the safety of the players comes first.' The delay reignited the debate over midafternoon kickoffs in professional soccer in the heat of the U.S. summer. In the NWSL, this is an ongoing issue. The most alarming incident came in 2017, when then-Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly collapsed at the end of a match against Seattle Reign. The England international, who now plays for Aston Villa in the Women's Super League, was later treated for heat exhaustion, prompting the league to announce it would immediately review the start times of matches. That specific fixture kicked off in Houston around 4 p.m. in late May, with temperatures reported around 92 degrees. While the spotlight is on the NWSL this weekend, similar conversations were raised by players during the FIFA men's Club World Cup. Players, like Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, described feeling dizzy from playing in the heat. Several games were scheduled for midafternoon starts to accommodate broadcast audiences in Europe and Asia. In the NWSL, there are similar concerns over viewers. While the logical solution would be to push for evening or nighttime kickoffs in the summer, the league must compromise with broadcasters who prefer scheduling matches at times that accommodate their audiences. However, poor planning can make it a lose-lose for everyone. The weather delay in Kansas City this weekend resulted in the match not airing on CBS at all. Instead, it switched over to an online stream on the network's website and app. Instead, their broadcast featured an already-scheduled preseason friendly between the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets by the time the Current-Pride match finally began. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nordi Mukiele joins Sunderland from PSG
France international fullback Nordi Mukiele (27) has joined Sunderland AFC from Ligue 1 side PSG, both clubs have announced. The former RB Leipzig defender has signed a four-year deal with the Black Cats. Sunderland and PSG reportedly reached an agreement worth €12m for the transfer of Mukiele, according to RMC Sport. He will wear the No. 20 shirt for Regis Le Bris' Black Cats. Mukiele was expected to leave PSG this summer considering he's not highly regarded by Luis Enrique. The Spaniard sanctioned Mukiele's season-long loan to Bayer Leverkusen last season. He featured 45 times for PSG. Despite PSG's over-reliance on right-back Achraf Hakimi, and the Moroccan international's expected absence for the AFCON, the Laval Academy product was deemed surplus to requirements in the French capital as Warren Zaïre-Emery and João Neves can fill at right-back. 'He's had a variety of experiences in Europe, including in the Champions League, and now he's motivated to show his ability for Sunderland AFC in the Premier League', said Sunderland's Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman. 'We're delighted to complete this deal.' GFFN | Bastien Cheval
