Panthers camp observations: QB competition update, minor injury for Shaq Thompson
After a day off, the Panthers were back at it Thursday on the practice fields outside of Bank of America Stadium with another morning in pads.
The unfortunate theme of the day was multiple players getting attention from the training staff for various reasons throughout the three-hour long training camp session. The majority returned to practice, but as the number of injuries around the league continue to increase at camps, it will be something to keep an eye on.
INJURIES
▪ WR Keith Kirkwood (broken clavicle) is out several weeks. WR Omar Bayless (knee) remained out of practice, but instead of wearing a red jersey with No. 1 on it, he was in a red jersey with no number.
▪ LB Shaq Thompson was late to practice after dropping off his kids at school, but then also did not participate due to tightness in his groin. He is “day-to-day.”
▪ DT Bravvion Roy missed practice due to a non-COVID illness that Rhule described as “stomach stuff.”
▪ TE Temarrick Hemingway (concussion) is making his way through the protocol and wore a green non-contact jersey at practice, the same color the quarterbacks have been wearing. Hemingway participated some in practice, but was held out of much of the team period.
▪ LB Jordan Kunaszyk (ankle) returned to practice after missing two days. In his first day back, Kunaszyk made an impact, punching the ball out from Mike Davis’ arms for a fumble.
MOVES
DE Jalen Jelks participated in practice after passing the COVID-19 protocols. In a corresponding move, the team released tight end Andrew Vollert, who they signed Sunday. Vollert gained some attention after his release by the Chargers was documented on the series premiere of Hard Knocks.
“He’s a great young man and (we had) no issues with him at all. We had a chance to get a pass rusher in (Jelk, Hemingway’s back today. It’s a numbers game,” head coach Matt Rhule said of the move. “This is a really hard year being at 80 (players) as opposed to 90 and having some players get hurt early that we want to hold on to, like Kirkwood, etc.”
The Panthers also claimed kicker/punter Kaare Vedvik off waivers from the Bills. The Panthers will make a corresponding move once he clears COVID-19 protocols.
TOP PLAY
Turnovers have previously been restricted to the three fumbles that occurred in Tuesday’s practice, but the defense got another leg up when defensive back Corn Elder stepped in front of wide receiver Curtis Samuel in one-on-one drills to pick off a Teddy Bridgewater pass. It was a good play by Elder, who got in a little more on the action today.
HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Cornerback Eli Apple is being worked into the defense more each day. He had a good day Thursday, including making a big play against wide receiver DJ Moore. Receiver Robby Anderson did make a great catch against him in one-on-one drills, but that was more about Bridgewater’s well-placed pass.
▪ This could probably be a part of every day’s training camp observations, but I was reminded (unnecessarily) how good Christian McCaffrey is today. Just zooming past defenders. He had one play against rookie Stan Thomas-Oliver that just wasn’t fair. It might seem obvious, but he stands out even in camp settings. As Russell Okung said Tuesday, “(McCaffrey’s) always competing.”
▪ QB P.J. Walker had a good start to the day, including a pass to Moore that went for a touchdown. Walker and second-year quarterback Will Grier have been up-and-down through the first days of camp open to media. Rhule said Thursday that right now Grier is leading the backup competition, but that it has been back-and-forth.
“For the first week of camp, P.J. would have been a little bit ahead. I think Will’s battled back. I know when you guys watch it, I know you guys see it differently, because obviously, we’re seeing like the ball should go here. It should go there,” Rhule said. “But to me, it’s way too early to start thinking about that yet.”
One other quarterback note: Rhule said that if the team was playing today, Bridgewater would be the starter. Nothing new, but just passing along. Bridgewater couldn’t connect on a few throws Thursday, but has looked solid overall.
▪ Defensive end Efe Obada has looked good so far. I saw him get the edge in a pass-rush drill today. Another sign of that? Rhule said this week he is someone the coaching staff wants to find a role for.
“We’re trying to carve out and really find a great role for him, where he can make an impact on the game,” Rhule said.
▪ Jeremy Chinn continues to be a positive. He’s been very involved thus far.
LOWLIGHTS
▪ Undrafted free agent Joseph Charlton shanked a punt over a wall earlier this week and the punter booted another punt wide left over a wall and onto Cedar Street Thursday. The former Gamecock has quite a leg on him and has had some solid kicks thus far, but he’s been inconsistent. Rhule did refer to him as someone the Panthers want to “invest in and see what he can do as camp goes on.”
Thursday afternoon the Panthers claimed Vedvik off waivers from the Bills. Vedvik gives the team competition at both kicker and punter. The Ravens traded the Norwegian player to the Vikings for a fifth-round pick in 2019, but he lost the kicking competition in Minnesota to Dan Bailey. Since 2018, Vedvik has been with five total teams and played in just one regular season game for the Jets. He missed a field goal and extra-point attempt in that game.
▪ Instead of putting another player or play here, let’s go with all of the hobbling and small injuries that occurred on the field. At one point, it felt like three players were being looked at all at the same time. The Panthers are giving players three off days over an eight-day stretch to try to prevent injuries, but seeing so many players being looked at, even for minor things, isn’t ideal.
OTHER NOTES
▪ There was some country music out at practice today, especially during warm-ups. Most of the music at practice has been rap thus far, but this was more of a mix. Every practice has featured “Jump Around” by House of Pain.
▪ Rookie cornerback Troy Pride Jr. was one of the players that had a bit of a limp following a gunner drill. He’s had some good plays and some not-so-good plays in camp. He did have one pass break-up, but also talked over some things with assistant coaches. A player to monitor.
▪ McCaffrey is part of the group practicing punt returns as Rhule discussed in his press call, along with Moore. Former Gamecock Pharoh Cooper has only been a positive thus far as a top returner, but the team is open to using anyone who gives them an advantage.
“I think any time you have a chance to get the ball in one of your best players hands, it’s something you have to think about,” Rhule said. “Again, it’s not something I’m sitting here saying that we’re doing, you asked me if we would consider and I said I obviously would consider it, but it’s not like in our immediate plans. I think one of the reasons for that is Pharaoh Cooper, he’s a Pro Bowl returner that we got. We’re gonna, I think, really exhaust that, but we are work repping Christian, we are repping DJ at times. If it’s the right situation, if it was a punter that’s given us some returnable balls, if the ball’s backed up, then I think you consider it just a little bit more.”
▪ Versatility will continue to be a theme for the Panthers. While listed as a defensive back, Myles Hartsfield was wearing a blue offensive jersey and took reps at running back. Having players who can fill in at multiple spots is a priority with the unknowns surrounding COVID-19.
“Myles is a guy that I recruited and he was a great tailback in high school,” Rhule said. “He went to college (at Ole Miss) and played defense. We’ve been repping him on defense, we’ve been repping him at tailback. He’s a really good athlete, so he’s someone that as we try to fill numbers at different positions, just gives us a little flexibility.”
▪ Following a Walker incompletion at the end of a drill, the entire offense had to do push-ups.
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
Back for another padded practice Friday morning, starting at 8:45.
This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 3:54 PM.
