Panthers 16, Texans 13: Miles Davis Wins It, Bryce Young Never Leaves the Sideline

August 28, 2026 - Charlotte - The field was wet before the first snap. Heavy rain sat on Bank of America Stadium for hours. Both coordinators played it small.

Miles Davis still scored from a yard in the fourth quarter. Jeremiah Moon sacked Brett Rypien and forced a fumble with 54 seconds left. Cam Gill recovered. The Carolina Panthers beat the Houston Texans 16-13 and closed the preseason 3-1. Houston finished 0-3.

Bryce Young did not play. Neither did C.J. Stroud. ESPN and the Panthers both said the starters stayed down.

Pickett, then Trask, then a 1-yard plunge

Kenny Pickett started and went 5 of 8 for 48 yards. Davis Mills started for Houston: 3 of 7, 18 yards, one interception. Neither club scored while they were in.

Trevis Gipson Sr. sacked Mills on the first possession, then hit him into a throw that Lathan Ransom intercepted near midfield. Dave Canales said his rushers were getting tackles' hands off and finishing at the quarterback.

Kyle Trask, signed in camp after Haynes King hurt a hamstring in the Hall of Fame Game, went 19 of 28 for 147 yards with one interception and led four scoring drives. Ryan Fitzgerald made three field goals. Davis, an undrafted Utah State back, ran 11 times for 34 yards. The Panthers said an earlier apparent touchdown was ruled down by contact. He got a second chance from the 1.

Anthony Tyus had 10 carries for 41 yards. Trevor Etienne left early. Canales said he was scheduled for an MRI on his ankle.

Rypien went 13 of 23 for 101 yards, a late 6-yard touchdown to Zay Jones, and an interception. Houston managed 173 yards. Carolina had four sacks and two interceptions.

Cuts, receivers, and a weekend of decisions

DeMeco Ryans said Houston has more receivers deserving of spots than it has room, with Jayden Higgins out for the season and Tank Dell still coming back from a knee injury. He named Nico Collins, Justin Watson, and Xavier Hutchinson as the known names, with Jones, Sterling Shepard, Jaylin Noel, Jared Wayne, and rookies in the mix.

Darren Waller did not play. Canales said he has not had enough team reps and that roster talks with Waller would happen over the weekend.

Carolina opens without starting tackles Ickey Ekwonu (knee) and Taylor Moton (blood clots). Rookie Albert Reese IV allowed four pressures and one sack, per ESPN.

Texans defensive lineman Solomon Byrd was helped off after his neck snapped back tackling James Mitchell in the fourth quarter.

Houston hosts Buffalo on Sept. 13. Carolina hosts Chicago the same day.

AthX Engine, if this were a regular-season card

AthX Engine NFL scoring on Friday's verified lines:

Davis' rushing touchdown is 6 fantasy points plus rush yards. Jones' 6-yard catch is a receiving score. Trask's interception and Mills' interception are negatives on the QB card. Fitzgerald's three field goals sit on the kicker table. Preseason games are not stored as AthX Engine weekly lines yet.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay when Young and Stroud are in September plans.

Track Young, Stroud, and the Panthers and Texans on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap, Panthers.com, ESPN, NFL.com schedules. Information only; not financial advice.*