CHARLOTTE — When the Panthers drafted Tetairoa McMillan No. 8 overall back in April, it was with the hope and expectation he'd bring his big-play style to Charlotte.

On Friday night, Carolina fans got the first taste of how the rookie can ignite an offense.

The Panthers' first offensive drive in the season's preseason game against the Browns began deep in their own territory, then stalled with a three-and-out. With the starters still on the field, the second drive started with better field position at their own 27-yard line and the chance to open it up a little more.

So Dave Canales and the Panthers did, calling on their Top 10 rookie to make a play.

Bryce Young wound up in shotgun and let the ball fly down the right sideline. McMillan was matched up at the top against corner Chigozie Anusiem. McMillan came off the line with a step on Anusiem, and despite the DB staying on his back through the route, was able to stay just enough ahead and to give Young space to drop in the ball.

"I just did my release. Look up, the ball is right there, perfectly placed," recalled McMillan. "At the end of the day I got to come down with it. So, a great ball by Bryce and I'm just glad he trusted me on that particular play and just had to go out there and make a play."

Anusiem moved in at the last second to try to break up the pass, but McMillan was able to use the wingspan on his 6-4 frame to box out the corner and make the hands catch while still in bounds.

It was precisely the kind of play Dan Morgan, Canales, and crew imagined when they brought in the Arizona product. It's also the kind of trust play that typically comes after months, maybe even years of a quarterback and receiver playing together. So, how have these two managed to find it so quickly?

"I don't know," laughed McMillan, "Maybe it's a Cali thing."

Added Young, "I have a ton of trust, a ton of confidence in him. He did a great job of holding his line, giving me a spot to throw the ball. It's a great catch. It's a lot harder of a catch than I'm sure it looks, so he did a great job on that."

Five plays later, McMillan moved the chains again. On second-and-9, Young went through progressions and found McMillan had broken free from his defender on an inside crosser. The 13-yarder moved the chains and got the Panthers into the red zone.

Once there, Young targeted TMac again on a second-and-goal from the 5-yard line. But this time, the two didn't connect. The ball was a bullet from Young, but McMillan wasn't able to get the right angle on the pass. As soon as the ball fell to the ground, McMillan turned back towards the line and gestured to let his quarterback know that he knew it was his fault.

"That ball came out good, good anticipation. I got to have those at the end of the day, so, you know, we just come back tomorrow, correct it, we'll go from there," explained McMillan. "I just got to get my head around quicker. That was a perfect ball from Bryce. I'll finish those next time."

Added Canales, "(The) ball that got on him pretty quickly down there, could have been the first touchdown, he got hung up a little, and that's red zone football in the NFL, you know, it happens quickly. The windows close and the quarterbacks are going to put their back foot in the ground. Bryce delivered a great throw right there and I think that's one that (TMac will) be able to grow from."

It was a drive indicative of all McMillan can bring to this offense, and the strides he still needs to make as a rookie, with a big dash of excitement surrounding what is to come.

"That's what we're counting on," said Canales. "That's why he's here; stretch the field, play big, and that was, you know, a sign of good things."