5 mouth-watering Carolina Panthers clashes to watch at NY Jets joint practice

Get your popcorn ready.

The Carolina Panthers are going to get their biggest litmus test yet during a special joint practice against the New York Jets. Thursday's occasion in Charlotte promises to be memorable for fans in attendance. It'll also be another important evaluation tool for head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan with final cuts looming.

Xavier Legette

Anything less than improved production won't be well received. The Jets harbor grand ambitions to win the AFC East and go on a deep postseason run in 2024. They have legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers back under center, exceptional players at the skill positions, and a dynamic young defense capable of making things extremely difficult for even the most elite opposition.

The Panthers are some way off that level right now. But if they can hold their own - especially on offense - versus a team that expects to be among the challengers, it'll be a monumental confidence boost for all involved.

With that in mind, here are five mouth-watering clashes fans should savor when the Panthers lock horns with the Jets in joint practice.

Carolina Panthers clashes to watch during NY Jets joint practice

Ejiro Evero vs, Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers' credentials speak for themselves. The quarterback is a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the greatest of all time. He's coming off a torn Achilles that ended his 2023 campaign after a few snaps, but all signs point to the signal-caller making a full recovery this time around.

The Carolina Panthers defense led by coordinator Ejiro Evero will look to make their presence felt versus Rodgers and the Jets. There isn't much the former California star hasn't seen throughout his glittering career. Confusing him is nearly impossible, so it'll be interesting to witness what schematics are deployed by the future head coach.

Carolina's defense has come of age at practice over the last week. Doing the same against the Jets and Rodgers will alleviate concerns that some fans have after several established stars departed during the offseason.

Xavier Legette vs. Jets cornerbacks

Xavier Legette is back at practice following a spell on the sidelines with a foot issue. The Carolina Panthers avoided a major scare following an MRI that revealed no fractures, so hopefully it will be smooth sailing for the wide receiver from here on.

Legette is a physical, explosive wideout who can provide the Panthers with something they lacked last time around. Those in power will get a broader indication of what the No. 32 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft might be capable of when the regular season arrives versus the New York Jets, who boast an exceptional secondary across the board.

The Panthers would be wise to line Legette up against All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner frequently. He's one of the best shutdown defensive backs in the business, so it'll only help the first-year pro's development whether he gains success or not.

There's also the small matter of D.J. Reed on the other side to factor into the equation. The Panthers might err on the side of caution with Legette's reps given he's still working his way back to optimum fitness, but the opportunity to pit his wits against arguably the league's best young cornerback tandem is something Carolina shouldn't waste.

Carolina Panthers iOL vs. Quinnen Williams

The Panthers spent vast financial resources improving their offensive line interior this offseason. Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis come with big price tags and lofty reputations. They represent a significant upgrade at the guard spots, but staying healthy is critical to Carolina's chances of providing quarterback Bryce Young with sufficient protection.

Austin Corbett's transition to the center spot is experiencing some growing pains currently. That's to be expected. However, the Panthers can only afford this to continue for a little while longer with Week 1 at the New Orleans Saints on the immediate horizon.

This interior trio will get all they can handle versus the Jets at joint practice. They'll have to cope with stud defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, the human wrecking ball capable of destroying an offensive game plan when early momentum is generated.

If the Panthers aren't up for the challenge, Williams is going to run riot. That's going to make things even more difficult for Young in pursuit of accumulating some much-needed momentum before the campaign.

Hunt, Lewis, and Corbett have the quality production and experience to limit complications. Whether they're cohesive enough as a unit to cope with Williams' pure dominance is another matter.

Jaycee Horn vs. Garrett Wilson

Get your popcorn ready for this one.

The Carolina Panthers are counting heavily on Jaycee Horn in 2024. His talent is up there with the NFL's best cornerbacks when healthy. Staying on the field is his biggest complication, featuring in just 22 games over three seasons thanks to several frustrating ailments.

Horn has asserted his dominance throughout Carolina's training camp, locking down everyone in his path and displaying a swagger that's hard not to love. Everything is pointing up for the South Carolina product. A strong joint practice against the New York Jets and wide receiver Garrett Wilson will only enhance optimism.

Wilson torched Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. from start to finish in their joint practice last week. He's one of the league's most gifted route-runners with a blossoming reputation. Horn should be relishing the challenge, so no quarter will be given by either party throughout what promises to be a must-watch clash between two elite-level performers.

If Horn can emerge victorious from this battle, it's another solid foundation from which to build entering his fourth season. Looking at his current trajectory and overall athletic attributes, he's more than capable of coming out on top.

Bryce Young vs. Jets defense

The Panthers seem to be taking a cautious approach with quarterback Bryce Young this offseason. Dave Canales' decision to not give him reps in their preseason opener was a hot topic of debate among the fanbase. He's got a plan for the signal-caller and is not deviating from it. His previous reputation for galvanizing players under center should come with a sense of trust attached until further notice.

Young not participating in the preseason - for now at least - makes joint practices even more pivotal. This will be the only genuine NFL opposition the former Alabama star will face if Canales adopts the same mindset over Carolina's warmup games. It's also a daunting challenge versus one of the league's most athletic young defenses.

There aren't many holes in this unit. The Jets have an outstanding defensive spine and playmakers who can make things happen on any given down. If Young isn't ready, it's not hard to see where complications could emerge.

This is a solid measuring stick for Young and Carolina's offense overall. Consistency remains an issue with so many new faces meshing together, so the Jets will have no trouble exploiting this weakness if the same trend continues.

Was this article helpful?

Yes