The bye week was pretty darn good to the Carolina Panthers.
In addition to getting healthier, they now have a stronger hold on their lead in the NFC South. While the distant last-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally won a game, the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons both lost their respective matchups—leaving Carolina all alone at the top of the division.
However, when they return to practice, they'll have to prepare for the toughest portion of their 2026 schedule. First up, it's a road game against the Philadelphia Eagles—followed by Tampa Bay, then a challenging stretch against the Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans and the Baltimore Ravens.
If the Panthers are going to emerge from that run with a .500 record or better, they're
going to need some players to step up and start doing their part.
Here are four guys we'll be keeping a close eye on coming out of the bye . . .
LT Rasheed Walker
Right tackle Taylor Moton may soon be returning, but there's no immediate end in sight to the issues on the blindside. That's where Rasheed Walker, a free-agent acquisition from the spring, has struggled a bit in pass protection.
Quarterback Bryce Young has done a brilliant job of navigating quick pressure all year, but it'll be extremely difficult to continue thriving the way he has all season. Walker has to do a better job of protecting Young, or he may be in danger of losing his starting job—as the Panthers, when Moton returns, could look to swing 2026 first-round pick Monroe Freeling over to the left.
C Luke Fortner
The offensive line has been pretty woeful all around outside of left guard Damien Lewis. Their pass protection issues inside are the worst, resulting in the most quick pressures allowed in the league going into Week 5.
Fortner has been just as rough as Walker in this department, and the overall dysfunction of the unit is ultimately on him as the franchise center. The Panthers have to consider giving rookie Sam Hecht a chance to show what he can do if Fortner continues to struggle.
OLB Pat Jones II
Carolina's pass rush is a lot more expensive than it was last season, but it's not a whole lot better.
While their pressure rate has improved, the Panthers rank 25th in the league in sacks with just eight thus far. Although Jaelan Phillips and Princely Umanmielen are doing their parts, the rest of the edge rush rotation needs to step up—especially veteran Pat Jones. In six games with Carolina going back to last season, he's totaled just one sack and three quarterback hits.
CB Akayleb Evans
You never want to be the guy on the backend of the defense that the other team singles out. But that's exactly what happened to Evans in Week 4.
The special teams ace has been forced into a starting role on defense thanks to the injuries to Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, and he was targeted time and time again by Detroit—who hit him up for 11 receptions, 197 yards and a touchdown on 14 looks. Other teams will do the same until Evans proves that he can hang in coverage at this level.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 4 players the Panthers need more out of coming off their bye week
