Panthers encounter dominant Texans pass rush in joint practice

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the team needed to see more physical play after a joint practice with the Houston Texans highlighted the Texans' pass rush. The Texans' edge defenders Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. repeatedly pressured Panthers offensive tackles Rasheed Walker and Monroe Freeling, forcing quarterback Bryce Young into hurried throws and two interceptions.

"Two words, Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson," Canales said. "I think that's four words actually, but those guys are fantastic players."

Canales described the day as "lopsided" and stressed that the experience provided valuable data for the Panthers to regroup. He noted that both Walker and Freeling, who have been working through injuries to starting tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton, performed well given the circumstances.

Young acknowledged the challenges, saying the practice offered many lessons and that the team must remain steady and learn from both good and bad days.

"Again, I think there's a lot of great tape for us to learn from out there. There's a lot of lessons out there. I think we're only going to be better from a day like this," Young said.

Defensive end Derrick Brown said the Panthers' defense performed at an "average" level, though he held high expectations for the unit. The defense limited Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud to short passes and forced several pass break-ups from cornerback Jaycee Horn and safety Mike Jackson. In a later two-minute drill, the Texans managed a quick touchdown pass to rookie tight end Marlin Klein.

Brown emphasized the importance of self-accountability and reviewing film to improve.

"Self-accountability. We're going to go in here and watch the tape, take ownership. It doesn't start with the coaches, right? It starts with the players," Brown said.

Canales announced that starters would sit out the preseason finale on Friday, giving backups a chance to compete. Quarterback Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask are expected to receive the most reps, as rookie quarterback Haynes King continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

The practice remained peaceful, with no fights breaking out. Canales praised the cooperation between coaching staffs and the physical style of the drills.

Former Alabama teammates Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr., and John Metchie III used the session to reconnect, highlighting the personal bonds formed during their college years.

Linebacker Devin Lloyd missed the practice due to a sore knee but is expected to be ready for the regular season. Wide receiver Xavier Legette remained sidelined with a foot injury, while tight end Darren Waller saw extensive drill work.