CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales was a little concerned after Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan had connection issues on passes in practice.
You would never know it by the way they played Sunday night.
Young completed 29 of 41 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns to McMillan, who had 14 catches for a career-high 192 yards, and the Panthers overcame an injury-filled week to beat the Detroit Lions 32-26.
“Everything went well tonight,” McMillan said. “There were a few plays throughout the week that maybe we didn’t make, but (offensive coordinator) Brad Idzik called the plays and Bryce trusted him. He made some good throws and we converted. I can’t tell you what happened tonight. Maybe it was just Charlotte’s looks.”
Young, who was serenaded with “MVP! MVP!” chants by fans in the fourth quarter, said he never hesitated to start McMillan because he had so much confidence in him.
“I know what kind of player he is. He’s special,” Young said. “I still trust him. I trust him and I know that one (bad) practice is not going to change that.”
Additionally, Young didn’t have many other experienced options.
With two of Carolina’s top three receivers, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette, injured, Young was forced to take a heavy hit on McMillan and the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
And he responded largely from the start for the Panthers (2-2).
McMillan had nine catches for 147 yards in the first half, including a 32-yard touchdown.
He joined Steve Smith Sr. and Patrick Jeffers as the only Carolina players with at least 10 receptions, 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a game. And he came close to breaking the franchise records for receptions (15) set by Christian McCaffrey and receiving yards (201) held by Smith.
Young entered Week 4 leading the league in passing yards and the 2023 No. 1 overall pick opened the game by completing his first 11 passes.
Chuba Hubbard gave the running game the spark it needed by carrying 20 times for a season-high 122 yards and two touchdowns as Carolina scored on six straight possessions after taking its opening drive.
Jared Goff threw for 412 yards and a touchdown to Sam LaPorta for Detroit (2-2) and Jahmyr Gibbs added 77 yards from scrimmage and scored his seventh touchdown of the year, but the Lions didn’t look as explosive as they had in the first three games of the season.
Detroit was able to overcome McMillan’s big first half and tie the game before the break.
Jameson Williams had a 49-yard reception up the middle against an injury-depleted Carolina secondary that lost starting cornerback Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson to eight-week injuries last week.
That allowed Jake Bates’ basket to make it 16.
But Detroit’s defense couldn’t get off the field in the second half as Young repeatedly found an open McMillan.
Even after the Lions cut the lead to 32-26 with 3:38 left on LaPorta’s TD catch, McMillan responded with a striking reception down the right sideline for a first down that moved the clock forward.
Yet the drive ended with a sack and the Panthers were forced to punt.
The Lions had a chance to win the game on their final drive, which started at their own 13 with 2:12 left. But Goff couldn’t get a first down and Young kneeled twice to end it.
“We found ourselves in a hole there, which is frustrating,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “At the end of the day, we had our chances. Our defense made a stop and we had the ball with about two minutes left in the game. And we just couldn’t get it done.”
Lions: Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin left in the second half with a hamstring injury.
Panthers: Rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling, the team’s first-round pick, injured his knee in the third quarter and did not return. Coker was inactive due to a quadriceps injury. Linebacker Jaelan Phillips left in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. Canales had no update on either player after the match.
Lions: At Arizona next Sunday.
Panthers: Will have a chance to heal with a bye next week before traveling to Philadelphia on October 18.
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