The Carolina Panthers have wrapped up another practice at 2020 training camp. Here are a handful of takeaways from the media.
Panthers quarterbacks put in extra work
Today’s session was a little more low key than most this week.
Instead of practicing in full pads, players were just in shells and the offense and defense worked separately. After it was over, quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater, P.J. Walker and Will Grier put some extra work in with the wide receivers and other pass catchers.
Bridgewater was spotted coaching up backup running back Reggie Bonnafon on his route running.
Practice is over but the QBs and a few others are getting some work in. Teddy Bridgewater tells Reggie Bonnafon to get a little wider . pic.twitter.com/3sc9AOCarT
— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) August 21, 2020
Defensive ends Efe Obada and Yetur Gross-Matos also stayed late. They might both be competing with Stephen Weatherly for the opportunity to start on the other side of the defensive line opposite Brian Burns.
Injury updates: WR Curtis Samuel limited
On the injury front, wide receiver Curtis Samuel was “extremely limited” today and may have left practice early.
Rainy practice is over – hard to tweet on a wet phone but Omar Bayless not out here at all. Bravvion Roy/Shaq Back.
Curtis Samuel extremely limited, may have even left early – didn’t see him for last hour or so.
— Josh Klein (@joshkleinrules) August 21, 2020
Samuel was dinged up during drills on Thursday.
In related news, rookie wide receiver Omar Bayless is still out with knee swelling and Keith Kirkwood remains out with a broken clavicle. He is expected to miss several weeks.
Linebacker Shaq Thompson is slowly getting back up to speed as he deals with tightness in the groin. He worked with trainers early and went through position drills inside the bubble with the rest of the defense.
Another strong day for K Joey Slye
Things haven’t been going so well for rookie punter Joseph Charlton. He’s booted a couple kicks over the wall and yesterday the team picked up another punter/kicker off waivers.
However, it’s been a different story for Joey Slye, who has officially replaced Graham Gano (now with the Giants) as the team’s starting kicker. The accounts coming out of training camp about Slye have all been positive thus far. Today, he went a perfect 5/5 on his field goal attempts.
It was, in fact, Joey Slye who was 5-for-5, not his agent.
Related: Will work for umbrella.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 21, 2020
This is good news for Slye, who started his rookie season strong but fell off in the second half after struggling in London against the Buccaneers. He bottomed out Week 12 against the Saints, missing two extra point attempts and a chip-shot field goal that could have won the game.
Slye has exceptional range, though. If he builds some consistency he could prove to be an upgrade over Gano in the long run.
Special teams fútbol
Speaking of special teams, the Panthers brought out soccer balls to use during punt blocking drills.
Soccer balls out for this special teams period. pic.twitter.com/P2gIrarsuP
— Bill Voth (@PanthersBill) August 21, 2020
Whatever works.
Special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn is the only coach on the team who has kept his position from last season. He has his work cut out for him, as Carolina’s unit has been ranked the worst in the NFL going into 2020 by Football Outsiders.
A long huddle in the rain
After practice, head coach Matt Rhule brings the players together for a speech. Even though today’s huddle took place in the rain, it went a lot longer than usual.
Matt Rhule wrapped up practice as he always does with a big team huddle. Today’s went longer than usual, at least seven minutes. pic.twitter.com/v1GMm7xheW
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) August 21, 2020
The Panthers practice again tomorrow and then get Sunday off.
