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One Starting Lineup Change Panthers Should Make Ahead of Week 4
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- One Starting Lineup Change Panthers Should Make Ahead of Week 4
The Carolina Panthers are preparing for a crucial Week 4 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
This game is on Sunday Night Football, so it's a chance for the Panthers to impress in front of a national audience. The team really needs to pick up a win after dropping a winnable game against the Browns in Week 3 .
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One of the biggest problems last week was the offensive line. The unit allowed Bryce Young to be pressured on over half of his dropbacks. It would be hard for any quarterback to succeed under those conditions, so it's not surprising the offense was inconsistent.
It doesn't help that both starting tackles remain out, and Damien Lewis, who has been by far the best lineman on the team, will also miss the next few games . As a result, there's really not one spot on the line you can feel great about right now.
With that in mind, there's one change the team could make that could be an upgrade.
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Sam Hecht Should Replace Luke Fortner at Center
Jul 31, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers center Sam Hecht (75) participates in a pass blocking drill during Fanfest at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The Panthers drafted Sam Hecht in the fifth round in 2026. Hecht was considered a mid-round steal by some, and he impressed as soon as he got to Carolina.
At the beginning of the summer, Hecht seemed to be battling tough with Luke Fortner for the starting center job . Fortner eventually pulled away, but Hecht ended the preseason on a positive note, and it was clear the team believed in him going forward.
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Fast forward to Week 4, and Fortner has not impressed. The veteran has earned a 54.9 Pro Football Focus Grade , which ranks 24th out of 33 qualified centers. Fortner has only allowed one sack and only been penalized once, but he's allowed a whopping 10 pressures already.
Fortner has been serviceable as a run blocker, but only five centers in the league have a lower pass-blocking grade.
As a result, it makes sense to see what Hecht can do. The rookie has only played 11 snaps so far, which is a miniscule sample size, but he hasn't allowed any pressures yet.
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What's the worst that could happen with Hecht in the lineup? Young is already the most pressured quarterback in the league, so it's likely Hecht won't be any worse. It's also now clear the offensive line needs more help next offseason, so the team needs to know if center is another need.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Oct 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
