It’s rare that an NFL team unveils a never-before-seen uniform combination the week of a game, but that’s exactly what happened when the Carolina Panthers announced they’ll wear their black alternate helmets with process blue jerseys and pants and black socks during Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Panthers have worn black helmets once each season since they were introduced in 2022, pairing them both times with black jerseys, pants and socks. In order to do so, though, they had to designate their all-black uniform as their Color Rush set and further limit the number of times their process blue alternate jerseys could be worn.
Now, Carolina could have opted to wear all-black for the third straight home game against the Falcons, but decided to switch things up by wearing the process blue alternate jerseys and pants instead. This will also mark the first time Panthers have worn black socks with process blue pants, which were added to the rotation in 2015.
Looking ahead, the all-black uniforms could still make an appearance this season, as teams are permitted to wear alternate, throwback or Color Rush uniforms a combined three times each year and Carolina has only announced the process blue jerseys will be worn once more on Nov. 10 against the New York Giants.
Elsewhere, the New England Patriots will wear their “Pat Patriot” throwback uniforms for the first time this season when they host the Houston Texans. They are 2-2 in the threads – which feature white helmets with a vintage logo on the sides, red jerseys with white and blue UCLA stripes on the shoulders and white pants with matching stripes – since they returned in 2022 following a 10-year hiatus.
Meanwhile in Dallas, the Cowboys will wear their standard silver helmets, navy jerseys and white pants at home for the first time this season when they host the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon. They are 9-2 in this combination since it debuted in 2017, including a victory over the Lions late last year, and plan to wear it again in the season finale against the Washington Commanders.
The weekend wraps up with the New York Jets wearing “The Classic” uniforms against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. The throwback threads are effectively what the franchise wore from 1998-2018, but include a gray facemask and thinner numbers more reminiscent of the 1968 team.
They also feature the Jets’ current shade of green, which bridges the gap between their 1968 Kelly green and the 1998-2018 Hunter green, and lack the team’s logo patch on the left shoulder. The Bills, meanwhile, will counter with blue jerseys and pants – a combination they’ve interestingly worn in their last two trips to East Rutherford (both losses).
Related stories:
NFL Week 5 Uniform Schedule: Broncos, Jaguars, 49ers Wearing Throwback Uniforms, Texans Debuting H-Town Blue Color Rush Set 
NFL Week 4 Uniform Schedule: Lions Debuting New Black Jerseys, Blue Helmets While Browns, Falcons Wearing Throwbacks 
NFL Week 3 Uniform Schedule: Vikings Wearing Throwback Uniforms, Broncos Debuting Orange Jerseys 
Every Uniform, Logo, and Helmet Change For 2024-25 NFL Season 
2024-25 NFL Alternate, Throwback Uniform Schedule 
Minnesota Vikings Alternate, New York Giants Throwback Jerseys Leak 
Baltimore Ravens “Exploring” Changes To Alternate Uniforms 
Every NFL Uniform, Logo Change For 2023-24 Season