CAROLINA PANTHERS

Carolina Panthers finish preseason on a winning note, edging Houston Texans 16-13.

Carolina doesn’t play its starters but still beats visiting Texans to finish preseason 3-1

Published

August 23, 2026

Game Center graphic for the Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers NFL Preseason Game on Aug. 28, 2026, featuring logos for each team

The Carolina Panthers host the Houston Texans in the final NFL preseason contest for each team. Find game information, what to watch, score and game recap.

FINAL: Panthers 16, Texans 13
The Carolina Panthers closed the preseason with a 16-13 victory over the Houston Texans on Friday night at Bank of America Stadium, finishing the exhibition schedule 3-1. Neither team played its starters, with Carolina holding out 30 players.

Rookie Miles Davis scored Carolina’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter, while Ryan Fitzgerald kicked three field goals. The Panthers’ defense forced four turnovers, with Jeremiah Moon’s strip-sack and Cam Gill’s recovery with 54 seconds remaining sealing the win.

Kyle Trask completed 19 of 28 passes for 147 yards with one interception, while Kenny Pickett went 5-of-8 for 48 yards.

🔄 Last Updated: August 29, 2026 12:36 am

🏟️ Preseason Game Information

The information below was published before Friday night’s games and is included here for archive purposes.

Houston Texans (0-2) at Carolina Panthers (2-1)
Date: Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Last Meeting: Houston Texans 20, Carolina Panthers 3 (Aug. 16, 2025 – preseason game)

TV: NFL Network; Panthers Television Network (WSOC-TV in Charlotte; WRAL/WRAZ in Raleigh-Durham)
Streaming: Panthers.com and Panthers app (free in-market); NFL+
Radio: Panthers Radio Network

Weather: Mid-70s around kickoff with scattered storms and rain possible
Spread: Houston -1.5
Over/Under: 36.5
Lines via DraftKings, Aug. 26

📚 Last time out for the Panthers

Carolina Panthers 34, Jacksonville Jaguars 17 (Aug. 21) – The Panthers starting unit found the end zone on the second possession and Carolina never trailed on the way to its second preseason victory of 2026.
Bryce Young completed 5-of-6 passes for 49 yards in limited action at the start
Jonathon Brooks and AJ Dillon earned rushing touchdowns, and the Panthers scored on four of five red zone trips
Reserve quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask threw passing touchdowns.
Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald hit a 61-yard field goal at the end of the first half.

🔍 Texans at Panthers (Preseason): What to Watch

🏈 How much will Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers starters play?

The Panthers starters will not play in Friday’s preseason finale against the visiting Houston Texans, coach Dave Canales confirmed on Wednesday. He said the starters took about 75 percent of the reps during a joint practice with the Texans, and while he called the session “lopsided” in Houston’s favor, he didn’t need to see them play any more before the opener.

“(The twos and threes) will finish it out for us and a great opportunity for them to compete and show us what they got,” Canales said.

With undrafted free agent quarterback Haynes King still nursing an injury, Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask will lead the offense Friday night.

🏈 Who makes the Panthers’ 53-man roster?

NFL teams have to trim their rosters from 90 down to the active-roster limit of 53 before 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30. This will be the last game action for players on the bubble to make their case.

Players to watch for Carolina include running backs AJ Dillon and Trevor Etienne, wide receivers Jimmy Horn Jr. and John Metchie III and outside linebacker Patrick Jones II, among others.

Dillon has run with power in the preseason, while Etienne has made an impact on special teams. Horn has been a multi-purpose threat on returns and breaking long gains on runs and receptions. Jones missed much of 2025 with a back injury and is trying to make his way back to form.

🏈 Will new TE Darren Waller play against the Texans?

Tight end Darren Waller, 34, has primarily been focused on conditioning and learning the playbook since joining the team on Aug. 17. He has been “sprinkled” into various drills and activities.

In the latest depth chart, released by the Panthers ahead of Friday’s game, Waller is listed at the bottom among tight ends. He is not expected to play against the Texans, per multiple reports.

“He’s in great shape and I think it’s just a matter of time for him to just hear the words, get where he fits into the concepts for us to be able to continue to evaluate that,” Canales said Monday.

🏈 Who starts next to Devin Lloyd at inside linebacker?

Devin Lloyd is locked in as one of the Panthers starters at inside linebacker. Who will play next to him still seems up for grabs coming out of the third preseason game against the Jaguars. Neither Trevin Wallace nor Claudin Cherelus seemed to do enough to differentiate themselves in the game

“Similar to tight end, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Panthers search for a veteran free agent linebacker before or after the cut-down deadline next week,” ESPN’s Mike Kaye said, as published by PanthersWire.