HOUSTON — The Panthers' starting offense looked pretty good against the Texans on Thursday.

Saturday left a little something to be desired.

Quarterback Bryce Young and the ones played just two series against the Texans in the 20-3 loss at NRG Stadium.

Young didn't complete a pass, going 0-for-2. One was off the hands of tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, and one was just past Tetairoa McMillan's ability to make it a one-handed catch.

Young was also sacked on a third down, and they called it a day for him after a pair of three-and-outs.

It was a contrast to the work done during joint practice, when Young was particularly sharp during the two-minute segment, getting Sanders into the end zone to score when they had to.

The first offense also got in the end zone during the second of their two series against the Browns last week in the opener.

It wasn't an encouraging look, though they were playing against a much better grade of competition.

First defense has moments, but allows a score

The first defense, including Pro Bowler Derrick Brown, also got two series in.

It was his first work in a game since last year's opener, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

"It was very few, but it was good to be back out here," Brown said during a sideline interview with the Panthers Television Network. "Just trusting the process throughout this whole past year, begging to just get something out here today, so I was able to be out here with the team, so I was excited to be able to go out there and just kind of set the tone from the beginning of the week, showing up here, doing a joint practice and then just rolling into this game and being able to be with my teammates."

The Texans got it into the end zone, with CJ Stroud hitting Nico Collins for a fourth-down conversion.

The Panthers did have starting linebackers Trevin Wallace on the field after he missed the joint practice for personal reasons.

The high point might have been defensive tackle Bobby Brown III batting down a third-down pass. That's a Derrick Brown move, and having big bodies up front that can push the pocket and deflect passes is a good thing.

It was such a small sample size that it's hard to draw too many conclusions, and came against a team which has won a couple of division titles in a row.

Thin in some spots on defense

After the starters were done for the day, the Panthers had some new combinations on the field on defense.

With backup linebacker Claudin Cherelus continuing to recover from a groin injury, the second group of linebackers included veteran special teamer Jon Rhattigan and newcomer Krys Barnes. Rhattigan had a nice pass breakup on a fourth down, but his day job is in the kicking game.

Barnes has starting experience with the Cardinals and Packers, but that's the exception in a young group.

Odds and ends

— Guard Ja'Tyre Carter was helped off the field by the athletic training staff in the third quarter.

He started last week's game against the Browns, and is part of a deep offensive line group, after returning their top nine in snaps from last year, in addition to two practice squadder (Carter and Brandon Walton) along with second-year lineman Jarrett Kingston.

Carter went to the blue medical tent, but returned to the field later in the game.

— Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald did his part in the kicking competition, hitting a 52-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Veteran Matthew Wright had a chance at a 55-yarder in the fourth quarter, but it was short.