Atlanta's backup quarterback is the least of Carolina's problems

The Panthers head to Atlanta for Week 2 with a situational edge at quarterback — the Falcons are working with backup signal-caller duties — but the more pressing story remains what Carolina is bringing to the field around Bryce Young. McMillan, Waller, Okereke, and Jonathon Brooks are all active, which is genuinely good news after a summer that felt like a hospital ward. The skill-position core is healthier than it looked in August.

The problem is everything around it. The receiver room behind McMillan is thin to the point of being theoretical — David Moore is the listed starter at wideout, and there is no proven backup behind him with meaningful snaps. The running back situation is similar: AJ Dillon is the starter, but the depth behind him hasn't demonstrated it can carry a workload if something goes wrong. And the offensive line, still missing Taylor Moton indefinitely with a blood clot, remains the unit most likely to turn a manageable game into a blowout.

That last part is the real concern heading into Week 2. Last week in Chicago exposed the same structural flaw that sank the 2025 season — Carolina can hang in close games, but when a game opens up, the roster doesn't have enough to fight back. A backup quarterback in Atlanta is an opportunity, not a guarantee. If the Panthers fall behind early, the depth chart becomes the opponent.