In the opening drive, Young attempted three passes to players other than Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan, however, was active and on the field for the Panthers, though he did not receive a target on those early plays. There were no reported injury concerns for McMillan entering the weekend, and the lack of targets on the first drive appeared to be a game-plan or distribution choice rather than an issue with health.
Key developments on the drive included a 26-yard completion to Jalen Coker, who serves as the Panthers’ wide receiver second option, and an 11-yard catch by starting tight end Tommy Tremble. Young also targeted backup tight end Mitchell Evans once, incomplete. The Panthers ran twice with Hubbard for a total of nine yards. While McMillan drew attention from the defense, he hadn’t been targeted yet, indicating he simply hadn’t been involved in the pass plays to that point.
Looking ahead, it’s anticipated that McMillan will see significant involvement as the season progresses. He earned the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year honor by contributing in all 17 regular-season games, posting 122 targets, 70 receptions, 1,014 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. These numbers translate to an average of 4.1 catches per game, and expectations are that he will be even more impactful in his second season.
In the Panthers’ lone playoff appearance last season, McMillan recorded five receptions on seven targets for 81 yards, underscoring his role as a reliable pass-catching option. Alongside Jalen Coker, who is established as a solid WR2, the Panthers’ wide-receiver depth beyond those two remains uncertain, with Xavier Legette and other depth chart players needing to prove their consistency. McMillan has already shown consistency and is expected to be a key contributor as the season unfolds.
End note: The content above focuses on player roles, in-game actions, and season-long expectations without external references or promotional material.
