The Carolina Panthers practiced inside Bank of America Stadium this morning and played their first scrimmage of training camp.
Here are six takeaways from the media on-hand.
Teddy Bridgewater’s strong start
There probably won’t be many highlights coming out of this practice due to restrictions on what reporters are allowed to show this year. So, we will have to settle for a box score for now. For what it’s worth, Bridgewater had a fine day based on the raw stats.
The Riot Report says he started 9/13 for 159 yards and two touchdowns and had another wiped out by a penalty.
Panthers just had a two hour scrimmage inside BoA Stadium (thread)
Bridgewater started 9/13 for 159 yds and 2 TDs (Manhertz & CMC) against a variety of defenses (all QBs did reps vs both starters & backups)
Final drill had Mike Davis TD reception (from Teddy) erased by holding.
— Josh Klein (@joshkleinrules) August 22, 2020
Strong numbers, but they should be taken with an unhealthy dose of salt as Bridgewater faced backups as well as starters. Also, some analysts are projecting the Panthers will have the NFL’s worst defense this year, so odds are they are going to make a lot of quarterbacks look good.
That said, this is another positive sign for Bridgewater, who has done everything right so far – including staying late to get extra reps in. He continued that trend today.
Players are long gone. Except for Teddy Bridgewater. pic.twitter.com/guFLoHvbWJ
— Bill Voth (@PanthersBill) August 22, 2020
Things can always change once the live games begin. Right now, this looks and sounds a lot like it’s Teddy Bridgewater’s team.
Christian McCaffrey pulled early
The one guy who can challenge Bridgewater for that title is the team’s most talented athlete, running back Christian McCaffrey. As sensational as his game is, it’s not a great idea to continue giving CMC 400+ touches a season as he did in 2019 under former coach Ron Rivera.
When possible, coach Matt Rhule has to know when to give McCaffrey a rest in order to keep the team’s $64 million investment safe and fresh. Rhule made a wise decision during today’s scrimmage to pull him early.
Christian McCaffrey was pulled early, but I’m still projecting him to make my 53-man roster. https://t.co/ohzApVUe1M
— Bill Voth (@PanthersBill) August 22, 2020
Key defenders like Kawann Short, Tre Boston, Shaq Thompson and Brian Burns all took off their pads early, as well.
A preview of an empty stadium?
NFL games are going to be missing a lot of fans this year due to social distancing measures designed to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Some teams will be piping in artifical crowd noise to make things seem more normal, which definitely won’t be awkward in any way. Here’s a taste of what it sounds like.
A taste of what the crowd noise feels like from the stands pic.twitter.com/tsDvteyXlR
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) August 22, 2020
The Panthers are planning on filling the stadium to around 25% capacity this season. However, local officials may not sign off on a crowd that size. We should get a ruling from the county soon on whether or not fans will be allowed to attend the home opener Week 1 against the Raiders.
Injuries mounting at wide receiver
Carolina’s strongest unit this season is easily the wide receiver corps. However, injuries have started piling up at this position.
To recap, Keith Kirkwood suffered a broken clavicle and coach Matt Rhule says he will be out several weeks.
Undrafted rookie Omar Bayless had a lot of buzz going early at camp, but he’s been slowed by a swollen knee, which has held him out of the last several practices. Today he was in a red jersey with no pads.
Omar Bayless is here in a red jersey without pads. He’s off to the side working with a trainer
— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) August 22, 2020
Also, Curtis Samuel was reported to be very limited at practice yesterday. Rhule says he is dealing with a hamstring issue. On the bright side, Samuel was back in pads today.
However, we now have another name to add to this list. Seth Roberts did not participate in today’s practice.
No sign of WR Seth Roberts. Omar Bayless still not practicing.
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) August 22, 2020
Based on what they’re paying him ($3.75 million for 2020 for some reason), the Panthers probably see Roberts as their No. 4 wide receiver on the depth chart behind D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson and Samuel.
While this trend isn’t good, Carolina has plenty of depth at this spot and none of the injuries appear to be serious.
A new face at linebacker
Just before practice began, the Panthers announced that they’d signed veteran linebacker and special teams ace Julian Stanford.
Stanford spent last season with Carolina North and has been a core special teamer for every team he’s played with in the NFL (this will be his sixth). Stanford was spotted getting coached up by Shaq Thompson on the sideline, wearing No. 46.
Shaq Thompson helping out the new guy pic.twitter.com/LfO9YOgQfz
— Bill Voth (@PanthersBill) August 22, 2020
In order to make room for Stanford, the Panthers waived undrafted rookie David Reese. That leaves Temple’s Sam Franklin and Wisconsin’s Chris Orr as the only UDFAs left at this position after the team initially signed five.
Joey Slye closes practice with trick shot
Coach Matt Rhule mixed things up today by throwing in some challenges for his specialists. According to the Charlotte Observer, rookie punter Joseph Charlton missed on an attempt to reach the upper deck, but long snapper J.J. Jansen came through by hitting the goal post from 15 yards out. Kicker Joey Slye’s challenge was to make a field goal from the sideline. He came through, ending practice an hour early.
Practice ended w/ Rhule giving specialists a challenge. When each did their part, the team got to leave practice hour early. Jansen snapped and hit the goal post from about 15 yards out, Charlton missed punt into upper deck, but Slye made back his hour by making FG from sideline. pic.twitter.com/5IhtzIRoZn
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) August 22, 2020
The Panthers players are off tomorrow and then return to practice Monday.
