North Charlotte Today

The Carolina Panthers are set to play their second preseason game against the New York Jets this Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium. The game follows a joint practice between the two teams on Thursday, which Head Coach Dave Canales said would significantly influence the game's proceedings.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Here are five key aspects to watch during the game:

1. **Will starters be playing?**

The availability of starters remains uncertain. Canales emphasized that decisions would depend on assessments from the joint practice and recent injuries. "We have to see how we came out of this practice to just figure out our full numbers," Canales stated.

2. **A battle at receiver**

Receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. has had a strong camp, highlighted by an impressive performance in Thursday's practice. Competing for roster spots alongside Marshall Jr. are Ihmir Smith-Marsette and David Moore, as final cuts approach on August 27.

3. **Jack vs. Jake**

The competition for the third quarterback spot is intense between Jack Plummer and Jake Luton. Plummer went 11-21 for 86 yards in last week's game against New England, while Luton completed 7-9 passes for 38 yards in limited action. "It behooves all of us to utilize that third quarterback potential call up guy," Canales noted.

4. **Secondary's seconds holding it down**

Injuries to starters Xavier Woods and Dane Jackson mean increased reliance on younger players in the secondary. Recent performances by D'Shawn Jamison, Lamar Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade, Alex Cook, and Trevin Wallace have been promising.

5. **Special teams, special players**

Veteran kicker Eddy Piñeiro will get his chance to showcase his skills after rookie Harrison Mevis was waived following last week's game against the Patriots. Additionally, due to a lack of a long snapper during Thursday's practice, the Jets did not punt, potentially offering more fourth-down scenarios for the Panthers' defense.

As these storylines unfold during Saturday's game, they will provide crucial insights into player evaluations and team readiness ahead of the regular season.