CHARLOTTE Now that it's July, we're officially in the ramp-up to training camp and the start of the 2025 season.

So now's a good time to catch up with the Panthers' opponents this year and see what they've done this offseason to impact this year's matchup.

We'll go through these in order, so stay tuned for our breakdowns of the whole schedule.

OPPONENT: Miami Dolphins

When:Week 5 vs. Dolphins (Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.)

All-time series:The Panthers trail the series 2-6 (Carolina is 1-2 at home, 1-4 in Hard Rock Stadium).

Last year:Given the divisional matchups, the Panthers and Dolphins didn't play each other 2024. Their last regular season matchup was in 2023, a 42-21 loss for the Panthers in Miami. The two former Alabama quarterbacks,Bryce Youngand Tua Tagovailoa, both threw for over 200-yards, but Tagovailoa put up three touchdowns to Young's one.

The Dolphins haven't traveled to Charlotte since the 2017 season. That game was a Monday Night Football showdown that Carolina won 45-21. Cam Newton threw for four touchdowns, Jonathan Stewart ran for 110 yards, and the defense picked off Jay Cutler once.

2024 rankings and results

Record:8-9

Total offense:18th

Total defense:4th

Personnel moves

Key additions in free agency:G James Daniels, LB Tyrel Dodson, QB Zach Wilson, WR Nick Westbrook, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu. Also added CB Minkah Fitzpatrick in trade with Steelers, as well as TE Darren Waller after a year of retirement.

Key additions in the draft:DT Kenneth Grant, OT Jonah Savaiinaea, DT Jordan Phillips, CB Jason Marshall Jr., S Dante Trader Jr., RB Ollie Gordon II, QB Quinn Ewers, DT Zeek Biggers.

Changes from last year:On the surface, the Dolphins didn't change a lot from last year. The quarterback remains the same, the playmakers on offense are largely the same, despite the departure of RB Raheem Mostert, and the bulk of the coaching staff is still in place. But the changes they did make were big, and have been deeper into the summer.

On June 30, the Dolphins traded CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith (plus a 2027 seventh-round pick) to the Steelers, in exchanges for S Minkah Fitzpatrick. This is a return for Fitzpatrick, who was drafted to Miami in 2018, but could never quite find his footing with the then staff. Now, he gets a second shot in a secondary that will need the veteran experience.

After trading Smithwho was the second leading receiving for Tua last season with 884 yards and a team-leading 88 receptionsthe Dolphins needed some proven tight-end production. Given how late the calendar is into free agency, Miami had to get creative. That meant talking Darren Waller out of retirement. The tight end will technically come to Miami via a trade with the New York Giants, whom he last played for. A former Pro Bowler with eight years in the league, Waller had 52 receptions for 552 yards and a touchdown in 2024.

What to watch for in 2025:The Dolphins strength in 2024 was their front-seven on defense. They only got better, adding Kenneth Grant in the draft. And while the change in the secondaryRamsey for Fitzpatrickwill be interesting to watch, the real question marks on the Dolphins exist on the offensive side.

Tua suffered his third diagnosed concussion in two years in Week 2 of the 2024 season. He was out for four games, with serious questions about his future arising. Ultimately, he returned and went 74.5%, throwing for 2,384 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions over a nine-game stretch before a hip injury in Week 16 sidelined him for the rest of the season. So yet again, Tua's health remains something to keep an eye on entering the 2025 season. Furthermore, his ability to connect with Waller quickly will make a big difference in Mike McDaniel's offense. The Dolphins will also look for Tyreek Hill to have a bounce back season after his first sub-1,000 yard season since 2019.