CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young and the majority of the Carolina Panthers' starters will see their first preseason action Saturday against the Buffalo Bills in the final game before the start of the regular season.

What You Need To Know

  • The Carolina Panthers' last preseason game is Saturday against the Buffalo Bills

  • Panthers coach Dave Canales rested many of his starters in preseason matchups against the New England Patriots and the New York Jets

  • But Canales is expected to play quarterback Bryce Young and his backup, Andy Dalton, against the Bills

  • The Panthers also on Thursday traded rookie linebacker Michael Barrett to the Seattle Seahawks for cornerback Michael Jackson

Panthers coach Dave Canales had been on the fence about playing his starters after resting 32 players against the New England Patriots and 38 versus the New York Jets this preseason.

“My hope is to get the starters out there early in the game, get them some exposure,” Canales said Thursday. “The importance of it to me is how valuable the night before prep is, waking up in the morning — we have a one o’clock kickoff, and we have a lot of those the year — so just the body readiness.”

Backup quarterback Andy Dalton also is expected to play for the Panthers.

They will face the Bills' reserves. Buffalo coach Sean McDermott, a former defensive coordinator with the Panthers, said earlier this week that his starters will sit out the preseason finale.

The Panthers (0-2) have struggled mightily on offense under the direction of third-string quarterback Jack Plummer. Carolina's only scores with Plummer under center have been three field goals in two games, and its only touchdown came with Jake Luton at quarterback.

The Panthers finished a league-worst 2-15 last season and Young was among the lowest-ranked quarterbacks in most statistical categories. In addition, the 2023 No. 1 draft pick has had to learn a new offensive system under Canales.

Panthers send rookie LB Barrett to Seahawks for CB Jackson

The Panthers on Thursday sent rookie linebacker Michael Barrett to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for one-time starting cornerback Michael Jackson. 

Jackson, 27, was a key contributor for Seattle for the past two seasons. He started all 17 games at cornerback during the 2022 season and last season started four games and played in all 17. He had 17 passes defensed and one interception over the past two seasons combined.

But Jackson had fallen down the depth chart behind Tre Brown, Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon as the starters in Seattle's defense. The Seahawks also selected rookies Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James in this year's draft.

The Panthers were lacking depth at cornerback after recent injuries to starter Dane Jackson and Lamar Jackson. Dane Jackson is expected to miss the start of the regular season, while Lamar Jackson was released.

Barrett was a seventh-round pick by the Panthers this year and the trade also highlights some of Seattle's concerns about depth at linebacker.

Barrett played one season at Michigan under current Seattle coach Mike Macdonald when he was the defensive coordinator for the Wolverines. Barrett was a captain and third-team all-Big Ten selection last season for Michigan on its way to the national title.