CHARLOTTE — Now that it's July, we're officially in the ramp-up to training camp and the start of the 2025 season.
So now's a good time to catch up with the Panthers' opponents this year and see what they've done this offseason to impact this year's matchup.
We'll go through these in order, so stay tuned for our breakdowns of the whole schedule.
OPPONENT: Jacksonville Jaguars
All-time series: Series is tied at 4-4 (Panthers lead 3-1 in Charlotte, Jags lead 1-3 in Duuuuuval).
Last year: These two teams didn't face off last season, but were the penultimate regular season game for each other in 2023. That game was also in Jacksonville, and unfortunately, a snapshot of the stress Bryce Young was under all season, as he was sacked six times, and the Jaguars won 26-0.
To remember happier times, here's a moment from the last time the Panthers opened their season in Jacksonville, back in 2015, when Josh Norman picked off Blake Bortles and ran the interception back for a touchdown, the opening win in what would become a 15-1 regular season.
2024 rankings and results
Record: 4-13
Total offense: 25th
Total defense: 31st
Personnel moves
Key additions in free agency: WR Dyami Brown, OL Chuma Edoga, CB Jourdan Lewis, TE Hunter Long, QB Nick Mullens, TE Johnny Mundt, S Eric Murray, extended P Logan Cooke.
Key additions in the draft: WR/DB Travis Hunter, CB Caleb Ransaw, OG Wyatt Milum, RB Bhayshul Tuten, LB Jack Kiser, LB Jalen McLeod, S Rayuan Lane III, C Jonah Monheim, RB LeQuint Allen.
Changes from last year: The Jaguars made some changes with their pass catchers, releasing TE Evan Engram and WR Josh Reynolds, and trading WR Christian Kirk. It was a lot of big names from their roster, but Jacksonville was looking for a change with QB Trevor Lawerence going into his fifth-year and the Jags having missed the playoffs the last two seasons. So new general manager James Gladstone shook things up with plans to make a splash in the draft.
Speaking of the new GM, he's one of several fresh faces in Duval. The Jags brought in Liam Coen as new head coach after parting ways with Doug Pederson. The former offensive coordinator is in his first year as head coach after one year as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC, a path that sounds vaguely familiar. Both coordinators—OC Grant Udinski and DC Anthony Campanile—are in new roles as well, both having spent 2024 as position coaches. Udinski was with the Vikings, meaning he has experience with free agent TE Johnny Mundt, and Campanile spent 2024 with the Packers.
What to watch for in 2025: Thanks in large part to the sweeping changes with the pass-catchers, the Jaguars and Lawerence, are going to be relying a lot on younger guys in the passing game this season. Brian Thomas Jr. is heading into his second year, after a Pro Bowl rookie season that saw him finish with 1,282 receiving yards, third most in the league, with 10 touchdowns. In addition, Hunter will presumably line up as a receiver for the bulk of snaps, but the Jaguars haven't ruled out the possibility of the Heisman winner playing both ways. His signing was even announced as both positions.
The Hunter complex will be one of the more interesting storylines for the Jaguars this season. The question for the Panthers becomes, will their opponent have an answer in Week 1, or will this be something Jacksonville figures out as the season progresses?
View the top photos from Panthers vs. Jaguars by team photographer Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez.
