CHARLOTTE — After last week's win against the Cowboys, left guard Damien Lewis took to social media to describe a change in the culture of the team.

And after a couple of comeback wins, quarterback Bryce Young said he can sense it too, but it begins with the way they go about their work each day.

"I feel like we're definitely continuing to build and grow in the right direction," Young said Wednesday. "I think really one of the biggest things that we've noticed is just ownership, coach has done a great job of laying the foundation for us. And they'll be the first to tell you they emphasize it, make sure we take ownership in the culture and the plays and in our routines and whatever it is,

"And I think everyone's gotten a lot more comfortable embracing that. I'm embracing the culture, embracing the ownership and all the little things, and I think us being able to come into our own, it's been great. It's been great to be a part of, and it's been great to be a leader through it. So you know there's still work to do. Still so much for us to build off of. There's still so much for us to grow in, and you know we're just taking it week by week, but I'm super grateful to be a part of it."

The vibes are great, but without the work between games, it's far less important. And Young said as they've seen some positive reinforcement the last two weeks, that lesson is easier to spread.

"It breeds confidence and belief," Young said of the effects of winning. "But as far as a work ethic standpoint, it doesn't change at all. We have to chase, we're 0-0 this week. This is the most important game of the season because it's the next one. Coach says that all the time, it's all that matters. So we have to make sure that, regardless of anything that's going on, it's a week-to-week league, you're only as good as this upcoming week. So we're making sure that we stick to the process, have the same intensity, same hunger, regardless of what happens. For me, it's about the locker room; it's not just me talking. Everyone believes that, and everyone embodies that. And I'm grateful to be a part of a team like that, that burden that's lifted when you win or are winning.

"I think for us, honestly, we've always just kept it inside. We've always kept it in the locker room, we've always kept it about the people in the building. And for us, we've always had that mentality, success or no success. We've always just played for the next week. From the outside looking in, obviously, there are expectations and there are burdens and there are narratives, but for us, you know, we play for each other, we care about the building. So it's not a big shift for us. Again, we have to make sure we're consistent and diligent in our work. Coaches always talk about chasing the work, and that's what's going to make us, and we're all bought into that."

Shoutouts for the tight ends and receivers blocking

Panthers head coach Dave Canales spent most of his Wednesday press conference talking about the return of running back Chuba Hubbard and what it would mean — or not mean — for Rico Dowdle, who has 473 yards from scrimmage the last two weeks in Hubbard's absence.

But as he considered the success in the run game the last two weeks, and in general, Canales pointed to the group effort in front of them, and not just the offensive line (though they have been quite good).

He talked at length about the blocking of the tight end group, from Tommy Tremble to Mitchell Evans to James Mitchell, in the absence of starter Ja'Tavion Sanders, as well as the blocking jobs done by his receivers, including Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette.

"It starts right up front with that group communicating together, staying connected on blocks," Canales said. "I can't say enough about the tight end group and the way that they've been blocking physically. The growth of Mitchell Evans, being a reliable catcher, but also the physicality. Bringing Tommy has been unbelievable. James stepped in for JT's absence, and we'll hopefully get JT back as soon as possible. We're looking at that again right now this week.

"But give a shout out to (tight ends coach) Pat McPherson and having his guys ready to play violently. And I see the wide receivers taking strides, and taking steps on finishing plays with their hands on guys. And when you watch the highlights, it's not without seeing TMac or Xavier down the field getting their hands on DBs when Rico has been at the second level. So it takes a full group."

Focusing on growth on the road

Canales mentioned earlier this week they were looking at all their logistics for road games, since they haven't won one this year, but said Wednesday the process has to be the same.

"We sleep in a hotel," Canales said of the differences on the road. "We try to keep all of our rhythms and timing of things, what it feels like on a Saturday. Obviously, we're getting on a plane, but our meetings, we approach the same way and get the guys physically and mentally ready to wake up on Sunday, we get to go, it's one o'clock. We're at the stadium with plenty of time, getting prepped.

"For me, I always look at the road games as an opportunity for us to grow together. We spend a lot more time together, whether it's on the plane going to, coming from, just hanging out at the hotel, and talking to each other. A lot of great conversations there, great opportunity to build that chemistry, and so, again, you have to be able to win on the road. You have to be able to do that at a high level and block out the external factor. To understand the energy, the excitement comes from us. It always has to start with us, with the coaching staff and with the players, and we have to be able to do that together."

Planning on seeing Jalen Coker this weekend

The Panthers haven't added Jalen Coker or Austin Corbett back to the roster yet, as they work through their 21-day windows to practice.

Corbett only returned to practice on Wednesday and was a full participant in the non-padded practice.

Coker practiced last week, and Canales said the plan is for him to play Sunday against the Jets.

"That's the plan," Canales said. "We only get 48 helmets on game day, they've got to be able to play football, and in games, there are different ways that different modes that you have to play in. And whether you're playing with a lead or you're playing from behind, sometimes you've got to throw the ball, and the guy's got to be out there. You have to be able to count on the guy physically to be able to do that.

"Coker looked great today, had a fantastic practice, and we're going to just look at him again tomorrow. It'll be a little bit more high-mileage, high-speed mileage tomorrow. It's our big third down day, so that'll be the real test to see what we're going, what we're looking at, going in the weekend."

High praise for play-calling

During an interview on WFNZ this week, Panthers Radio Network analyst Jake Delhomme said that his teammate, legendary linebacker Luke Kuechly, was praising the way Canales called plays last week, saying it even confused him sometimes.

Considering Kuechly's amount of study and preparation, coupled with his pure football instincts, that's saying something.

Canales said there are times when he can feel himself getting into a groove. And with the Panthers ranked sixth in the league in first downs per game, he's getting more chances to get there.

"Absolutely, and it's about efficiency, and that's what this group has been, we've been an efficient team," he said. "We've been efficient in the run game. We've been efficient when we're throwing the ball, but when we're getting first downs and we're getting explosives, it opens up the whole call sheet, and it allows, just the more chances we get, the more that we can protect our core.

"You can protect the core of your run game with the play passes and the boots. You can protect your pass game, so you have your core concepts, and then you have adjustments to routes based on those things. The more plays we're able to have, the more times we're converting those first downs, then it just grows, and then the attack becomes really balanced."