Panthers' Kelvin Benjamin: Plays into third quarter

Benjamin caught three passes for 27 yards on six targets in Friday's preseason game against the Panthers.

Analysis:

Benjamin struggled to gain separation against a tough New England secondary, but Ted Ginn and Devin Funchess didn't fare any better in an all-around ugly performance from the Carolina passing game. More important, Benjamin played deep into the third quarter and didn't appear winded, which may temporarily quiet the concerns about his conditioning. Head coach Ron Rivera said he wants Benjamin to be able to play 30-to-35 snaps by Week 1, but that seems like a somewhat pessimistic assessment. The 6-foot-5 wideout logged 58 snaps per game as a rookie in 2015.