Houston Texans pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. were the biggest reasons Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales described Wednesday’s joint practice as a “lopsided” day for his offense.
Houston’s defensive front consistently disrupted Carolina’s first-team offense, with Hunter and Anderson making life difficult for quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers’ offensive tackles. Hunter recorded five “sacks” during the practice, while Anderson added another late in team drills.
Canales singled out both players afterward, praising their level of play following a difficult session for Carolina’s offense:
“Two words: Danielle Hunter & Will Anderson, I think that’s four words actually. Those guys are fantastic players. That’s exactly what we needed to see. When we dropped back today, we couldn’t really do much. The rush was phenomenal. It was pretty lopsided today, I’ll be honest. If we want to be good, we have to be able to play against teams like this.”
Panthers head coach Dave Canales after joint practice vs the Texans:
“Two words: Danielle Hunter & Will Anderson, I think that’s four words actually. Those guys are fantastic players. That’s exactly what we needed to see. When we dropped back today, we couldn’t really do much.… pic.twitter.com/IRqHGnDv2q
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) August 26, 2026
Hunter’s production helps explain why the Panthers were unable to contain him. The veteran has garnered 114.5 sacks across 10 NFL seasons, including 15.0 last year. Anderson, meanwhile, has accumulated 30.0 sacks through three seasons, with 12.0 coming in 2025.
The Texans also entered the practice with a defense that finished first in the NFL in total defense and second in points allowed last year.
Houston Texans pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. were the biggest reasons Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales described Wednesday’s joint practice as a “lopsided” day for his offense. Houston’s defensive front consistently disrupted Carolina’s first-team offense, with Hunter and Anderson making life difficult for quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers’ offensive tackles.