5 burning questions facing the Panthers during their bye week

The Carolina Panthers have now entered their latest bye week in 24 years, and they've done it on a high note.

Sunday's massive upset over the Los Angeles Rams has the team at 7-6 on their break. When they come out, there will be four games remaining—a stretch set to determine the fate of this emergent campaign.

But before they can look ahead to what could be their first playoff berth since 2017, the Panthers must answer some burning questions about the state of their team.

Let's run them down . . .

Who is the No. 1 tight end?

The inconsistency of this position group is puzzling.

Some games will see fifth-year veteran Tommy Tremble making big plays. Some will see 2024 fourth-rounder Ja'Tavion Sanders being force-fed. And some will see rookie Mitchell Evans offering glimpses at the future.

But no single tight end has proven that they can handle a heavy workload.

Tremble, Sanders and Evans are currently the Panthers' sixth-, seventh- and eighth-leading receivers—with just 48 yards separating the full range. They've combined for 500 yards and three touchdowns through 13 outings.

And while variety may be good, Carolina might have to designate a No. 1 option to close out the season. Given his ability as a run blocker and his reliability in the passing game, Evans may already be the choice.

Will Robert Hunt return in time for the final stretch?

Hunt, perhaps Carolina's top lineman, has been out of action since Week 2 with a torn biceps. Since then, the right guard spot has been manned by a mixture of hog mollies—including Brady Christensen, Austin Corbett, Chandler Zavala and Jake Curhan.

Remarkably enough, the offensive trench hasn't crumbled over that time—even despite having to field 10 different starting configurations. A possible return by Hunt, however, could prove to be a huge boon to the Panthers' playoff chances.

Head coach Dave Canales spoke about Hunt's status on Monday.

"He's working his way back, he's doing a great job in return-to-play," Canales told reporters. "He's getting stronger, and we just have to continue to take it week by week to see. We want that strength in his arm to come back so that he has balance and can be able to stop a big man trying to redirect—and we're gonna have to be really smart about that.

"I can't tell you exactly what the timeline is. But it'll be a weekly thing to kinda see where he's at."

The odds of Hunt coming back soon feel evenly split. But when or if he does, the ascending offense will be waiting.

Is 'Thieves Avenue' back in Carolina?

The Panthers' secondary is playing at a high level right now, having chalked up five interceptions against two highly-respected offenses over their past pair of games.

Carolina's stingy unit is headed by cornerback Jaycee Horn, who has already notched a career-high five interceptions. Fellow starting corner Mike Jackson, fresh off a pick-six of Los Angeles' Matthew Stafford, is also having a standout campaign.

Their play, along with contributions from safeties Tre'von Moehrig and Nick Scott, has reminded fans of the "Thieves Avenue" days—back in the mid-2010s. And if the defense has even half of that mentality and impact, then the Panthers could be a viable contender down the stretch.

Can Bryce Young maintain consistency when it matters most?

Young bounced back from a disappointing showing in San Francisco, completing 15 of his 20 throws for 206 yards (10.3 yards per attempt) and three touchdowns on Sunday. His performance was highlighted by a pair of two clutch fourth-down passes—both of which ended in long scores to Jalen Coker (33 yards) and Tetairoa McMillan (43 yards).

But can he keep it up?

The third-year quarterback has taken us on a roller-coaster ride in 2025. One week, he's breaking the franchise record for passing yards. The next, he's struggling to find a rhythm.

It's clear that Young possesses the ability to be a quality passer, especially when he's allowed to be aggressive downfield. If he can continue to throw the deep ball, the offense will continue to open up.

Is Dave Canales prepared for the challenges ahead?

Like Young, Canales has been up and down this season. Although he certainly has this franchise headed in the right direction, the second-year head coach has faced some fair criticism about his questionable game-planning on a few occasions—particularly against the New Orleans Saints in Week 10 and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12.

But Weeks 11 and 13 showcased the type of offense Canales can be successful with. He achieved a balance, headlined by a two-headed ground-and-pound rushing game that gave way to an opportunistic passing attack.

There is a way forward to success, efficiency and general consistency from this group. It is up to Canales to keep it moving.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 5 burning questions facing the Panthers during their bye week