What We Saw: Preseason Week 3 – Sunday, Aug. 25

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Panthers @ Bills

Final Score: Panthers 31, Bills 26

Writer: Riley Blum

Unfortunately, we did not get to see any Bills starters in this game as a precaution after a slew of injuries in training camp and preseason. The Panthers’ starters were out there for the first series, opening with a TD and setting the tone for the game. As far as preseason games go, this one was entertaining and surprisingly clean with zero turnovers from either team.

Two Up

Bryce Young – Even if it was against the Bills’ backups, Young looked very solid in this game. Passing for 70 yards and a TD in his only series, Young heads into the season looking to take a second-year leap under new head coach Dave Canales.
Frank Gore Jr. – Gore ran well in this final preseason game, eclipsing the 100-yard rushing mark. As long as his knee injury is minor, I think he showed enough to secure a spot on the Bills’ final roster or practice squad. If for some reason the Bills don’t bring him back, I’m sure some team will scoop him up.

Two Down

Miles Sanders – Sanders didn’t see any time or touches with the first team. He had 3 carries for 6 yards with the backups, and third-stringer Mike Boone outplayed him with the touches he received. This is Chuba Hubbard’s backfield until the rookie Jonathon Brooks is activated.
Xavier Legette – Legette has missed some time with an injury during training camp, which is likely the biggest reason he was not running with the first-team offense. Second-year WR Jonathan Mingo played with the starters ahead of Legette. It’s looking as though Legette will not open the season as a starting WR, but I’d expect that to change for the first-round draft pick if he can stay healthy and show improvement during the season.

Carolina Panthers

Quarterback

Bryce Young: 6/8, 70 Yards, 1 TD

Young was only out there for the first series, but he made the most of it taking the Panthers down the field for a TD on the game’s opening drive. He looked poised in the pocket and did a good job avoiding pressure and extending plays. The Panthers’ offense could be surprisingly good if Young can play at this level throughout the regular season.

Notes

Made a great throw on a third down to WR Diontae Johnson. Young was rolling left, but he delivered a strong, accurate throw across his body to hit Johnson for the first down.
Young took every snap from shotgun.

Jack Plummer: 21/29, 278 yards, 2 TD, 1 Passing 2-pt Conversion | 3 Carries, -2 Yards

The rookie played the majority of this game and turned in a strong performance. Plummer managed to lead three scoring drives and passed for nearly 30 yards

Notes

Plummer dropped a dime to WR Jalen Coker for a long TD

Running Back

Chuba Hubbard: 3 Carries, 15 Yards

Hubbard opened the game with the starters and ran hard on limited touches. He will open the season as Carolina’s RB1.

Miles Sanders: 3 carries, 6 yards

Sanders continued to underwhelm relative to the contract he was given as a free agent. He played with the backups and did not show anything on the few touches he received.

Mike Boone: 4 Carries, 20 Yards, 1 TD | 1 Reception, 10 Yards

Boone flashed some explosiveness on a couple of plays and scored a TD on the ground. He easily outperformed Miles Sanders.

Jaden Shirden: 13 Carries, 35 Yards | 2 Receptions, 32 Yards

Shirden was the Panthers’ back we saw for the majority of the game. He had a nice 28-yard catch and run, but he was stuffed a few times at the line as a ball carrier.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Diontae Johnson: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 17 Yards

Johnson projects to lead this team in targets and receiving, and we saw him make a 17-yard catch near the sideline to convert on third down. Johnson’s other target came on an end-zone fade in a goal-to-go situation; let’s hope Young continues to look for Johnson in the red zone.

Adam Thielen: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 21 Yards

Thielen was the Panthers’ leading receiver last season, and he continues to show chemistry with his young QB.

Xavier Legette: 1 Target, 0 Receptions

Legette played with the second-string offense.

Missed Opportunities

Legette dropped his only target of the game.

Ja’Tavion Sanders: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 13 Yards

Sanders played with the first-string offense in this one. It looks like the rookie will open the season as TE1 for Carolina.

Jordan Matthews: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 21 Yards, 1 TD

The TE also played some with the starters, catching 2 passes from Bryce Young, including the TD. Mathews also played some with the second-string offense.

Jalen Coker: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 55 Yards, 1 TD

Coker got separation to catch a 36-yard pass from QB Jack Plummer for an easy TD.

Terrace Marshall Jr.: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 39 Yards, 1 TD

Marshall led the Panthers with 5 targets, and he broke two tackles on a 15-yard catch and run to score a TD. This game should help him earn the Panthers’ sixth WR spot.

Jesper Horsted: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 63 Yards

David Moore: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 28 Yards, 1 2-Pt Conversion

Missed Opportunities

Moore almost had a TD catch, but the defender was able to knock the ball out of his hands.

Buffalo Bills

Quarterback

Ben DiNucci: 11/15, 76 Yards, 1 TD, 1 Passing 2-pt Conversion | 2 Carries, 14 Yards,

DiNucci was the Bills’ QB for the first half of the game. Despite throwing the Bills’ first TD of the preseason, DiNucci displayed some accuracy and ball placement issues. He was off target numerous times, and one of his passes was nearly picked off on a deflection. Even his successful two-point conversion came on a pass tipped by a defender that was luckily caught by Tre’ McKitty. DiNucci fumbled a snap, but was able to recover the ball and smartly ran 11 yards to pick up a first down.

Missed Opportunities

Tyrell Shavers beat his man with a nice double move, but DiNucci overthrew him on what should have been an easy TD.

Anthony Brown Jr.: 11/12, 102 Yards, 1 Passing 2-pt Conversion | 1 Carry, 13 Yards

Brown played the entire second half of this game, and he was much more accurate with his passes than Ben DiNucci.

Notes

He’s mobile and displayed a strong arm, somewhat reminiscent of the Bills’ QB1 Josh Allen. If either of these QBs makes the Bills’ roster, Brown looks to be better suited for the Bills’ style of offense.

Running Back

Darynton Evans: 3 Carries, 15 Yards | 3 Receptions, 28 yards, 1 TD

Evans did most of his damage as a pass catcher out of the backfield, including scoring the Bills’ first TD of the preseason. He showed some explosiveness but left the game early for what the announcers said was a hamstring injury.

Notes

He had an 11-yard carry where he showed elusiveness, juking a defender and spinning away from another tackle.

Frank Gore Jr.: 18 Carries, 101 Yards, 1 TD |1 Reception, 0 Yards

Gore displayed patience, vision, power, and some burst as a runner in this game. After Darynton Evans left the game early, Gore handled the majority of the rushing work for the Bills and totaled over 100 yards on the ground. Gore also left the game with an injury to his left knee, but it seems to be minor as he walked off the field and was spotted up on the sidelines.

Notes

Gore powered his way for a five-yard TD on a quick pitch play.

KJ Hamler: 3 Carries, 21 Yards, 1 TD | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 11 Yards

Hamler is actually a WR and return man for the Bills, but I’m including him in the RB section since he took some reps at the position after Frank Gore Jr. and Darynton Evans were sidelined with injuries. The undersized WR did surprisingly well at RB, getting to the edge for an 18-yard run on his first carry. Hamler took the next two carries right up the middle, ending the drive with a one-yard TD run.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Deon Cain: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 28 Yards

Cain showed explosiveness after the catch, picking up chunk gains on the swing passes he saw come his way.

Tyrell Shavers: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 Yards

Missed Opportunities