The Carolina Panthers wrapped up the 2026 preseason with a win over the Houston Texans at home.
The Carolina Panthers are heading into the 2026 NFL regular season on a high note.
After beating the Houston Texans 16-13 on Friday night at home, Carolina will finish the preseason 3-1 overall. They received an extra preseason game with the Hall of Fame game and took advantage of all the extra reps this preseason.
In a game where the majority of starters on both sides didn't play, the two teams were scoreless after the first quarter. And from then on, it was a defensive battle featuring a lot of field goals.
Ka'imi Fairbairn drilled a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Texans a 3-0 lead. From there, Ryan Fitzgerald hit three-straight field goals as Carolina took a 9-3 lead.
Fairbairn answered with a 47-yarder late in the third quarter to keep the theme going and cut the lead to 9-6. A Miles Davis touchdown run broke up the field-goal scoring as Carolina extended the lead to 16-6. A late score from Brett Rypien to Zay Jones with 3:25 left gave the Texans a little life.
But Carolina ran out the clock late to seal the deal and get the win.
Kenny Pickett got the start for the Panthers, going 5-of-8 for 48 yards before he was replaced by Kyle Trask. The recently-signed quarterback had a strong game throwing for 147 yards on 19-of-28 passing. Pickett has likely won the backup quarterback job but Trask put together a solid final game ahead of Sunday's roster cuts.
Carolina's defense was strong throughout the game, holding the Texans to just 173 yards for the entire game. Neither Rypien or Davis Mills could get anything going in the pass game and the rushing game struggled throughout as well.
Ja'seem Reed led the Panthers in receiving with two receptions for 37 yards and a long of 20.
For Carolina, the focus shifts to Week 1. They will host the Chicago Bears at home with the chance to make an early statement. It will be a matchup of two division winners as the Bears won the NFC North last season.
