Allen Park — The last time the Detroit Lions saw the Carolina Panthers, in 2023, quarterback Bryce Young was a mistake-prone rookie, running back Chuba Hubbard was still a change-of-pace option, and the team’s defense was on its way to finishing 29th in points allowed.
Detroit didn’t help that afternoon, hanging 42 on Carolina to send them to 0-5 on the season, avenging one of the worst losses from Dan Campbell’s coaching tenure a year earlier.
Less than two months after that loss to the Lions, Panthers head coach Frank Reich was fired, failing to make it through his first year with the franchise.
As you might imagine, so much has changed in the three years since the matchup. The team is now helmed by Dave Canales, a longtime Pete Carroll acolyte in Seattle who coordinated Tampa Bay’s offense in 2023 before taking the Panthers job.
Canales led the Panthers to the postseason last year, albeit with an 8-9 record. Still, optimism was elevated entering this season after they pushed the Rams to the brink in the Wild Card round, losing on a last-minute touchdown toss from MVP Matthew Stafford to tight end Colby Parkinson.
Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, was undeniably sharper in his third season, with career-bests in completion percentage (63.6%), touchdowns (23) and passer rating (87.8). Those aren’t great numbers, but it was enough progress for the Panthers to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract this offseason.
Young’s offensive line and passing weapons have been overhauled since the last meeting with Detroit. The Panthers used first-round picks in back-to-back years to upgrade the quarterback’s arsenal, selecting Xavier Legette with the No. 32 choice in 2024 and following that up by taking Tetairoa McMillan No. 8 last year.
They’re paired with Jalen Coker, an explosive playmaker who was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross in 2024. He’s actually pacing their corps with 18 catches for 222 yards through three games. Then, at tight end, veteran Darren Waller has racked up 10 grabs and two touchdowns in his first three games with the Panthers.
The blocking has mostly been shaped through free agency, as the team navigates injuries to starting offensive tackles Ikem Ekwonu (patellar tendon) and Taylor Moton (blood clots).
Backfilling those bookend spots are former Packer Rasheed Walker, who was signed for less than expected in free agency, and first-round pick Monroe Freeling, who the Lions passed over in favor of Blake Miller in this year’s draft.
On the inside, it’s a trio of signings from the past three years. Guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis were added in 2024, Canales’ first year, while center Luke Fortner came over from New Orleans this past offseason.
In the backfield, Hubbard is still there, but as an evolved player. He started to breakout shortly after the game against the Lions in 2023 and delivered his first 1,000-yard campaign the following season. He’s currently pacing the squad with 41 carries for 184 yards (4.5 YPC), while chipping in nine catches for 77 yards and two scores as a receiving outlet for Young.
Defensively, the unit is still being led by coordinator Ejiro Evero, who was retained by Canales despite a disastrous two-year start to his time with the club. After finishing 29th in scoring under Reich in 2023, Evero’s group dipped to last during Canales’ first year.
They rebounded to middle of the pack in 2025, but that momentum was halted in this year’s season opener, when the Chicago Bears went off for 59 points.
To Evero’s credit, he’s gotten things calmed down against less-potent opponents, with the Panthers giving up 24 points combined to the Falcons and Browns the past two weeks.
The defense remains anchored by some longtime cornerstones, defensive tackle Derrick Brown and cornerback Jaycee Horn, a pair of former first-round picks who have each been selected to at least one Pro Bowl.
Carolina invested heavily in their front seven this offseason, selecting defensive tackle Lee Hunter to pair with Brown on the inside and paying the hefty cost to sign edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd. Veteran Bobby Okereke was also added to the mix in free agency, but at a far lower price point.
In the back end, cornerback Mike Jackson and nickel Tre’von Moehrig were signed in free agency a year ago, while safety Lathan Ransom was added on Day 3 of the 2025 draft.
Despite the shellacking in the season opener, the Panthers have been tough to pass against to begin the season, allowing just 172 yards per game while snagging three interceptions.
They can’t, however, stop the run. They rank last in yards (580), touchdowns (six) and yards per carry (5.7) allowed.
A big story entering Sunday night’s matchup is Carolina’s injury situation. Starters Legette, Lloyd and safety Nick Cross sat out Week 3 with issues, while Horn, Jackson and Coker exited Sunday’s matchup against the Browns.
In a devastating blow, Horn suffered a torn quad and will be out for at least six weeks and likely longer. Lewis, the left guard, will also miss Sunday’s game, according to the NFL Network.
Young was also banged up last weekend, suffering an apparent foot injury, but he didn’t miss a snap. Still, a sore wheel could limit his mobility in and outside the pocket. In case you’re wondering, his backup is Kenny Pickett, the former Steelers first-round pick who has become a journeyman at 28 years old.
Regardless of how banged up the Panthers might be, winning in Carolina has proven problematic for the Lions. They haven’t left there with a victory since an inaugural trip in 1999. In that game, Charlie Batch threw two touchdowns — one to David Sloan and another to Brian Stablein — while Greg Hill paced the Lions on the ground.
Since that win, the Lions have dropped six straight on the road to the Panthers, including a chilly 2022 affair. The Panthers racked up 320 rushing yards in the 37-23 victory, the second most surrendered by the Lions in the Super Bowl era. That was also Detroit’s lone loss in the final six games that season.