I wouldn't say a bye this early is ideal, especially with the Panthers off to a 4-0 start. But there are obvious benefits to the bye no matter where it falls, and the last time the Panthers had a bye so early, following a 1-2 start to the 2013 season, they went 11-2 the rest of the way.
Head coach Ron Rivera welcomes the bye as an opportunity to heal up injured players, and he's actually viewing it as well-timed in the context of seeing the schedule as having two byes. After the Panthers return to action, they'll play six games before traveling to Dallas to take on the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, creating what Rivera labeled as a “mini-bye” following that game.