What happened: Carolina is using daily competition between its offense and new-look defense as a preseason measuring stick. The club reworked its defensive roster at nearly every position this offseason.

Why it matters: The internal work provides preparation for preseason road games at Buffalo and Jacksonville. Those repetitions also give the defense time to establish roles before the 2026 season.

What to watch: Watch whether the offense produces more downfield plays as Carolina moves deeper into its preseason schedule.