You know how most NFL coaches turn into PR machines the second one of their guys gets tossed? Lots of “we’ll have to look at it” and “he’s just playing hard” without ever actually pointing fingers. Yeah… Dave Canales skipped that script entirely after Bryce Young‘s WR got ejected.

Yes, preseason is here. And it’s already reminding us why we missed football so much. Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette and Browns defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins both got an early trip to the locker room after trading a few punches, and Dave Canales didn’t sugarcoat it in the post-game interview.

Once things cooled off, Canales didn’t bother dressing it up: “We ask our receivers to finish the play with hands on, and he had his hands on the guy the whole time. The guy chomped his arms down, and Xavier held on to his jersey. Then he started exchanging punches. You can’t do that. Both guys got ejected rightly. We want to see better from him.” Exactly. He noted that football is a physical sport, and tempers flare, but you need to keep your cool.

And yes, it was an unnecessary play. Chuba Hubbard picked up a few yards, pile starts to form, and then? Absolute chaos. Cameras caught Panthers wideout Xavier Legette and Browns safety Rayshawn Jenkins squaring up and throwing punches. Refs weren’t having it. Flags flew, tempers flared, and both guys got the boot with matching personal fouls.

It’s just preseason, sure. But it still stings for Xavier. Carolina went and traded up to grab him late in the first round in 2024, and the rookie delivered. 49 catches, 497 yards, four touchdowns. That’s the kind of debut that locks you into a team’s future plans. But in the NFL, talent’s only half the battle. The other half? Trust. And throwing hands in front of coaches, scouts, and every camera in the building is exactly how you chip away at that. Preseason or not, these things matter.

And it hits even harder when Canales spent the entire offseason hyping Xavier Legette up. He went as far as saying he could be ‘that guy’ for the Panthers. So to go from that kind of spring praise to an August soundbite about throwing punches? Yeah, that’s a sharp turn.

Legette apologized on X after the game, but the damage is already done. Getting tossed means lost reps, fewer chances to build that on-field rhythm with Bryce Young, and a slimmer margin for error when coaches start making depth chart calls. Add a potential fine to that. As if the loss against the Browns wasn’t enough, huh?

The Panthers put every foot wrong against the Browns

This wasn’t just one ugly moment in an otherwise smooth night for Carolina. The whole night was rough. The Panthers dropped their preseason opener 30–10, and the stats perfectly reflect this scoreline. The run game? Just 40 yards on 14 carries, a flat 2.9 yards per pop.

It doesn’t end there. The Panthers were bad across the board. Through the air, multiple QBs combined for only 211 yards. Put it together, and it didn’t feel like a crisp, “shake off the rust” kind of outing. It was a cruel reminder of just how much work needs to be put in before week 1.

The only good thing? Probably Bryce Young’s brief cameo. 4-of-6 for 58 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t nearly enough to hide the bigger picture. The Panthers couldn’t control the line of scrimmage, the Browns kept collapsing the pocket and winning those third-down battles, and the mistakes piled up.

Two turnovers hurt, and the defense gave up too many chunk plays, letting Cleveland stack scoring drives. Efficient from the QB? Sure. But the rest of the roster? Eh.

Throw the Xavier Legette ejection into that stew, and the night goes from bad to disastrous. You lose valuable reps for your first-round wideout, the offense sputters after a decent start, and now the coaches have extra headaches sorting out a crowded receiver room with guys like Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker trying to make their move.

As for Dave Canales, he obviously has a lot to figure out before week 1. 7th September isn’t too far, and Jaguars? They’ll capitalise on the vulnerability this team is putting on display.