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Panthers' rookie right tackle Jeff Otah is making a strong impression on the veteran blocking beside him, right guard Keydrick Vincent.
“The biggest thing is he listens and I think he's very intelligent and he's physical,” Vincent, an eight-year veteran, said of Otah. “It's going to be a long road, but as long as he keeps doing what he's doing, he's going to be ok.”
Otah and Vincent are newcomers to the Panthers this season. Carolina traded a future first-round pick in order to select Otah with the No. 19 selection in the draft. The Panthers signed Vincent as an unrestricted free agent.
Coach John Fox broke some good news to the Panthers after Monday's practice: No practice today. The team will have its regular meetings and walkthrough, but will get out of work early.
The free time will be welcomed. Since breaking training camp in Spartanburg last Wednesday, the Panthers flew to Philadelphia for Thursday's exhibition, arrived in Charlotte early Friday , then returned to practice in pads Saturday through Monday.
Despite being in Charlotte instead of Spartanburg, Fox said the Panthers are still in “camp mode.”
Fox said the coaching staff will use the extra time to prepare for Saturday's home exhibition against the Washington Redskins.
The Panthers remain impressed with rookie Charles Godfrey, a third-round pick who's been the first-team free safety since his first minicamp practice.
“We have an adage that people live up or down to expectations,” said Fox. “We've had high expectations for him. He's met those.
“Until we get into the regular season and really get any kind of body of work going, we won't know, but he's been everything we thought he is.”
The Panthers and other NFL teams are one week away from making their first cuts.
Rosters must be trimmed from 80 to 75 next Tuesday, with the final reduction to 53 coming on Aug. 30, two days after the Panthers complete their preseason with an exhibition at Pittsburgh.
Players who missed practice Monday included wide receivers Muhsin Muhammad (ribs), D.J. Hackett (toe) and Ryne Robinson (knee), tight end Gary Barnidge (glute), safety Chris Harris (groin), and defensive tackle Ian Scott (knee).
