CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Most of the players had gone. The cameras had largely exited the stadium and the booming music and artificial crowd noise had long past been turned off.
But still on the field at Bank of America Stadium was Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. He was working with tight end Chris Manhertz on routes, acting as the defender and showing him examples of how specific routes may be run. Manhertz, traditionally a blocking tight end, is developing into a receiving threat in the Panthers' new offense this year.
After the tight end left, Bridgewater, who so far in training camp is more likely to be seen staying late after practice rather than being the first one there, spent more time working on his downfield passing before the lights finally turned off.
Wednesday's practice under the lights, broadcast to the public for the first time, is the new reality. It's one thing to hear about it. It's another to see it with your own eyes. Some changes were subtle, others not so much. While the team's new leader staying out with a tight end expanding his skillset on the field far after practice is an example of a subtle shift, the TV broadcast of the practice flashing a lengthy graphic of all of the team's offseason departures was a bit more ... in your face.
Cam Newton. Mario Addison. Greg Olsen. Trai Turner. James Bradberry. The list goes on.
The reminders of who wasn't out there extended to the far edges of the field, where former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, now a team scout, stood on the sideline not in uniform, but instead as an observer. At times Wednesday, he was a coach, giving pointers to players like rookie Troy Pride Jr.
But with an absence of preseason games due to COVID-19, Wednesday was the only real glimpse of the new Panthers that fans will get before they face the Raiders on Sept. 13.
Outside of the reporters and team staff present, who had their temperatures taken before entering Bank of America Stadium, "The Vault" was empty, with fans' faces only appearing on the video board. As NFL teams around the country announce plans to hold games without fans in attendance _ at least to start the year _ that sight is one we will continue to grow accustomed to, whether in Charlotte or elsewhere.
Wednesday night's practice was the second the Panthers have held in the stadium, and this time they cranked up the volume on the crowd noise and music that played almost throughout the entire workout.
Aside from the change in venue from the practice fields and bubble, it was more like any other day at training camp. Nothing extraordinary. There were good moments _ Joey Slye hit all three of his field-goal attempts and defensive end Stephen Weatherly had a nice night with a sack _ and bad _ Brian Burns jumped offsides on a fourth-and-5 during a two-minute drill.
The Panthers have showed promise through a week and a half of open practices, but they are still learning. This team has a lot it still has to figure out before its first game just over two weeks from now. All that, compounded with the fact they're still getting to know each other.
But what was missing felt the most notable, obvious or not. Newton, who Pride Jr. and punter Joe Charlton grew up rooting for, wasn't there, nor were the fans that he handed balls off to after touchdowns. There are hubs of former Panthers in Buffalo and Washington that would jump off the page as more recognizable.
This was an introduction to the new reality of Carolina Panthers football: Everyone watching from a distance as Bridgewater turned off the lights.
