The first two offensive plays looked promising. A 24-yard pass from QB Mark Sanchez to TE Dustin Keller, followed by 20-yard throw to WR Patrick Turner. And then everything seemed to hit a quagmire with the Jets losing to the Panthers 17-12.

The Jets stalled, unable to get a touchdown. Again. The Jets have not scored a touchdown in their three preseason games. According to NBC Sports, the Jets are the first team in 35 years not to have a touchdown in the first three games.

LG Matt Slauson, in a rare loss of control, may have cost the Jets at least one shot at a touchdown. With the Jets on the 12-yard line, Slauson came to the defense of Turner who was tangling with members of the Panthers' defense. Slauson drew a personal foul ultimately leading to a field goal. "I cost us a touchdown and probably the game. I feel really bad about it," Slauson said. As for why he lost his composure, "I didn't like how they were getting after [Turner]."

WR Santonio Holmes and Jeremy Kerley returned, but made no significant contributions. Holmes, who said he feels "90-95 percent," also said he may have run the wrong route on one play. On another, where he dropped the ball, he said he "didn't get [his] head turned around in time."

Sanchez had a decent outing going 11 of 18 for 123 yards and an interception, but at least three of the incompletions were drops by his receivers, including rookie Stephen Hill. "I told [Hill] to get on the Jugs machine, first and foremost,” Sanchez said. “But I haven't lost faith in him. I'm still going to throw him the ball."

He also expressed optimism that the team will be ready and productive for the regular season. "There's good stuff around the corner and we're steadily improving," he said.

QB Tim Tebow had a less successful outing, going 4 of 14, although he also had 45 yards on five carries. Following the game, Tebow appeared calm and pointed to the lack of game-planning and the fact the Jets haven't really revealed their true offense yet.

"I think when the season gets here and we game plan and we show more stuff, it'll be a pretty good offense," Tebow said.

Ryan remains positive: "I really think we're going to get this thing turned by [the season opener]."

Losing the game may not have been the worst thing. In the first half, in quick succession, they lost TE Dustin Keller (hamstring injury), LB David Harris (ankle) and TE Josh Baker (knee).

Recovery times for all three players are unclear. But Keller and Harris walked off the field, but Baker needed a cart. Ryan said he hopes to get Keller and Harris back relatively soon. Baker is likely out for a long time, if not the entire season. The Jets expect to know more on Monday.

It looks like K Nick Folk may have won the job over Josh Brown. Folk has pulled away in the competition and made all three of his field goal attempts, and Brown missed a 45-yarder.

The Jets have to cut five players by 4 p.m. on Monday to get to the mandated roster size of 75.

Stay dialed in on the by following correspondent Lisa Zimmerman on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLNYJ and@LisaZimmerman.