Panthers looking ahead after Week 1 shootout loss

The Carolina Panthers are looking ahead after a bruising loss to Chicago on Sunday.

The Bears scored nearly 60 points in their 59 to 37 win.

Carolina now turns their attention to a road game in Atlanta this week.

Head Coach Dave Canales fielded questions Monday on the team’s performance. The Bears had more than 550 yards of offense to go alone with their 59 points.

Canales said after watching the tape that the team played hard, but he is not satisfied. And fixing it just won’t be on the players.

But he says he believes in the defensive scheme.

“The way that we employ the safeties, the way we move our secondary around, it keeps offenses guessing. I’ve been on the other side of this scheme as well. It does put pressure on the front,” he said. “So that’s the run game; when we talk about the pass game, you don’t really know what it’s going to end up being.”

Wide receiver Jalen Coker was seen in a walking boot on Monday after rolling his ankle in the first quarter but expects to practice this week.

Coming off a career day, #Panthers WR Jalen Coker says he rolled his ankle in the first quarter.

He’s currently in a walking boot, he says, as a precaution. @wsoctvpic.twitter.com/GmRmde7UYK

— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) September 14, 2026

Coker had 138 receiving yards and two touchdowns Sunday.