Chicago reminded Carolina of something it already knew

The Panthers lost to the Bears in Week 1, and the response was immediate: Jimmy Horn Jr. was waived after a muffed punt, and Tyrel Dodson was elevated from the practice squad to shore up linebacker depth. One game in, the roster is already churning. That's not a surprise if you watched 2025 — it's a confirmation.

Last season Carolina won 70% of its games decided by a touchdown or less, a genuinely impressive number. The problem was everything else. When games got away from them, the structural thinness of the roster had nowhere to hide, and the Panthers finished 8–9 and out of the playoffs. The Chicago blowout is the same film, new week.

The offseason addressed some of it — Darren Waller at tight end, Bobby Okereke at linebacker, Tetairoa McMillan back and healthy. But the offensive line is still missing Taylor Moton indefinitely, the receiver room behind McMillan has no proven depth, and the running back situation remains a concern. Jalen Coker is questionable with an ankle heading into Week 2 against Atlanta, which is not the kind of injury news a thin roster absorbs easily.

My read: the next few weeks will tell you whether this team can stay competitive when games open up, or whether 2026 is just 2025 with a shorter injury list. Atlanta is a reasonable test. The Panthers need to be in it late.