Backup Andy Dalton finished the game for the Panthers after Bryce Young exited with an ankle injury in the third quarter.
The Panthers got the game’s first touchdown with 1:11 remaining in the first half, taking a 10-3 lead on Young’s 3-yard scoring pass to Xavier Legette. The visitors capitalized on a short field, moving 52 yards over 7 plays. They kept their drive alive on Young’s 11-yard connection to rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan on fourth down and got to the 3-yard-line with a perfectly executed screen from Young to RB Chubba Hubbard for 26 yards.
In need of an energy boost to start the second quarter, the Jets’ defense delivered with a fourth-down stop. Edge Will McDonald IV and LB Mykal Walker combined to stuff Panthers RB Rico Dowdel for no gain on fourth-and-1 from the Carolina 49.
On the subsequent series, Fields ran for a first down on third down but took a big shot from S Latham Ransom at the end of his slide. Taylor finished the Jets’ first scoring drive that ended on Folk’s 34-yard field goal. The kick tied the game at 3-3 after Carolina took the early lead on Ryan Fitzgerald’s 30-yard FG during a first quarter the Jets were outgained 96 yards to 39.
After the game, Glenn was non-committal on whom will start for the Jets next week in Cincinnati against the Bengals.
“We’ll make the right decision,” he said. “Whatever the decision is, I’m going to go with it and we’re going to move forward.”